A government trying to control all technology
The China Letter: August 15, 2021
Beijing is no longer pretending that the actions taken against technology companies are random, as the justice system now seems to be geared to the interests of Huawei. But the tricks of state media are easily exposed, while the Olympics don’t seem to be accepting of political messages. (Read to the end for some elephants.)
A new kind of war is on
Surveillance of economic activity has only just begun in China based on the text of a five-year plan that says laws will be strengthened when it comes to science, technology, culture and education. As a result, investors are already turning to the less-regulated semiconductors, renewable energy and consumer-focused firms.
The cover story of The Economist condemns the crackdown on companies like Tencent and Alibaba—the latter company is also facing criticism by Beijing for its business drinking culture after a sexual assault allegation. It signals a state of affairs summed up by Taylor Owen: “A China’s dystopian digital future threatens us all.”
Raising stakes over Meng
Michael Spavor being sentenced to 11 years in prison for spying by China, soon after the death sentence appeal by Robert Schellenberg was rejected, add up to wondering if these two Canadians will be freed if Meng Wanzhou is allowed home. The Huawei executive still faces extradition to the U.S. as her hearing approaches the end:
A fake scientist is exposed
“Wilson Edwards” was the name of a Swiss biologist quoted multiple times in Chinese state media as an expert on the coronavirus who supported a World Health Organization study that blamed the pandemic on the U.S. But after the identity was tied to a fake profile on Facebook, the name suddenly disappeared from all of the coverage.
The podium aftermath
China falling one gold medal short of the U.S. at the Tokyo Olympics was followed by condemnation for the two medallists who wore Mao Zedong badges, a practice that they promise to never try again. But it’s Russia accusing other countries of rigging the Games, and now they’ve moved on to staging joint war games with Chinese troops.
The last words, for now
The evacuation of more than 150,000 people from a path of a herd of migrating elephants in in southwestern Yunnan province went from a report from Chinese state media to the stuff of international fascination. The attention coincided with World Elephant Day, which gave China some warmer publicity:
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