The most terrible tweet to come from China
The China Letter: January 12, 2021
The first anniversary of the Wuhan lockdown, how Chinese vaccines may (or may not) be deployed around the globe and ongoing crackdowns in Hong Kong are among the active hot topics from China. Let a friend know where they can keep up each week.
Propaganda gets whacked
Amidst controversy surrounding the relationship between politicians and social media, Twitter removed a message from the Chinese embassy in the U.S. It linked to a state-media report on a state-funded study concluding that Uighur women were freed from being “baby-making machines,” which was in fact the result of medicalization. But another related tweet curiously remained:
The new calls by America
The New York Stock Exchange flip-flopped three times in one week about delisting three Chinese telecom companies. Now that a decision to do it is final, one consulting firm thinks it will simply benefit the listings in Hong Kong. But it also coincides with curiosity about how the incoming Joe Biden administration will contend with China:
The European Union’s trade deal with China, signed on December 30, is seen as having a potential upside by putting the E.U. on equal footing with the U.S. when it comes to dealing with Beijing. Despite criticism for the agreement, the terms arguably make it more likely for China to be held to global account:
Hong Kong is keeping on
The year started in Hong Kong with mass arrests of pro-democracy activists along with the first blocking of a website on the grounds that it violated the security law. Continued crackdowns mean locals are fearing what the future might hold. And while the condemnation from other countries is common, firmer sanctions may be needed:
Viral truths are blocked
Critical coverage of the first anniversary of the Wuhan lockdown is being scrubbed by an army of censors in China, in order to portray the country as having defeated COVID-19, even as hundreds of new cases are being reported south of Beijing. Meanwhile, promises of Beijing’s vaccine diplomacy await evidence of fulfillment.
The last words, for now
A groom presented his bride with the traditional wedding gift of an outfit and lingerie, prior to their celebration in Guizhou province, but it resulted in her walking out on him—after the bra turned out to be too small. The party was held without her, but the story exploded on Chinese social media where she explained the bad fit was just a last straw:
The China Letter is produced by the Canadian Freedom Institute, a think tank based in Canada. We produce the China Letter every week to keep you informed and to press the ideas of free markets and free people not only in China but around the world. Please consider donating to keep this newsletter running!