Shanghai isn’t as free as it seems

The China Letter: June 3, 2022

For the latest roundup of China news you should know, we look at the lifting of lockdowns in Shanghai, concern over fighter pilots taunting Canadians, a United Nations official repeating propaganda, fines for an Australian casino covering up Chinese money, and how a textbook became controversial.

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The prices of freedom

Reuters @Reuters

While a two-month COVID lockdown is largely over in Shanghai, residents are required to have proof they have taken a COVID test within the last 72 hours in order to enter areas like malls and offices - or even to use subways and buses reut.rs/3PYlawA

Shanghai residents raced to get out of lockdown after two months, leading to scenes like lineups at luxury stores, but many small business livelihoods were strained along the way. There’s also fear that an outbreak could return and reactivate the COVID-zero policy whose economic effects are either the cause or symptom of larger issues afflicting China.

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China buzzing at Canada

Globalnews.ca @globalnews

Sources tell Global News that Chinese fighter jets are flying so close to Canadian intelligence planes that the Canadian pilots can see the Chinese pilots raising their middle fingers at them.

trib.alCanada alarmed as Chinese fighter pilots ‘buzz’ Canadian planes over international waters - National | Globalnews.caMultiple sources say Chinese fighter jets are repeatedly flying extremely close to Canadian intelligence planes over international waters, raising fears of a mid-air collision.

Canadian Forces and government sources spoke of concerning behaviour by Chinese fighter pilots “buzzing” a surveillance plane that’s part of a mission by the United Nations—behaviour that includes them raising middle fingers in the face of Canadians. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he’s heeding their concerns.

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Looking past the leaks

Axios @axios

A top UN human rights official is facing calls to resign after her visit to Xinjiang ended with her repeating, rather than denouncing, Chinese government propaganda about the ongoing genocide there.

trib.alAdvocates denounce UN official’s China visit as “ultimate betrayal”A top UN human rights official repeated Beijing’s Xinjiang propaganda

Michelle Bachelet is the United Nations high commissioner for human rights who didn’t denounce Beijing propaganda after her visit to Xinjiang. Rather, she repeated what she heard about Uyghurs being held in “vocational and educational training centres at the time more details than ever were leaked about the truth.

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China’s chips prove costly

BBC News (World) @BBCWorld

Casino firm fined over illegal China dealings

bbc.inCrown Resorts: Casino firm fined over illegal China dealingsAustralia’s Crown Resorts acknowledged its “historic failings” and promised to work on reforms.

Transactions falsely classified as hotel services were illegally accepted at the Crown Resorts casinos in Melbourne, Australia, where bank cards are forbidden to prevent money laundering and excessive gambling. The fine of AUS$80 million ($57 million U.S.) related to the profitable conduct between 2012 and 2016.

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The textbook example

CNN @CNN

China has ordered a nationwide review of school textbooks after illustrations deemed ugly, sexually suggestive and secretly pro-American caused public uproar.

cnn.itMath books outrage China with ‘ugly, sexually suggestive, pro-American’ imagesChina has ordered a nationwide review of school textbooks after illustrations deemed ugly, sexually suggestive and secretly pro-American caused public uproar.

Math textbooks used for nearly a decade are suddenly in the spotlight due to a reported online uproar over their images: accusations of sexual connotations along with drawings perceive of glorifying the U.S. while undermining China. Reactions on Weibo have led state-run publisher People’s Education Press to promise they’ll look into it.