China watchers propose new Indo-Pacific policy from Ottawa
And People's Daily accuses the U.S. of "colour revolution" in Central Asia.
Good evening, China watchers. Before we dive into today’s roundup, we are delighted to tell you that our first special edition on the Canadian Parliament has received so much positive feedback that we have decided to make it a regular weekend post. Stay tuned.
Today’s newsletter is going to look a bit different. You might have noticed the absence of a detailed daily roundup this week as we work on some housekeeping stuff. So in this edition, we’re prioritizing news from the past 24 hours and adding an ICYMI section for news from Monday and Tuesday. We are planning to get back to our daily routine later next Month. Until then, thank you for your patience. And please let us know if you have any comments.
The one from China:
The seventh installment of People's Daily’s U.S.-focused series targets Central Asia. Titled "Tulip Revolution'', a covert method to transmit western values." “郁金香革命”，用隐蔽手段传播西方价值观, the article was written by an anonymous researcher from the Russian Institute of Eastern Europe and Central Asia, a branch of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
From the article:
Tulip Revolution is a classic “colour revolution” incited by the U.S.
Jeffrey, then head of the International Republican Institute, admitted, "If it weren't for what we did in Kyrgyzstan, Akayev would still be in power."
“郁金香革命”是美国煽动的一场典型的“颜色革命”。时任美国国际共和研究所负责人杰弗里曾承认：“要不是我们在吉尔吉斯斯坦所做的一切，阿卡耶夫应该仍在执政。”
For a long time, the U.S. has used all kinds of means to infiltrate the ideology of countries in Central Asia. Kyrgyzstan enjoys an important geographical location.
The country has long been a key target of U.S. interference.
长期以来，美国利用各种手段在中亚国家进行意识形态渗透。吉尔吉斯斯坦位于欧亚大陆腹地，地理位置十分重要，长期以来一直是美国的重点干涉对象。
Canada
Diplomacy
A new book, co-authored by Canadian academics, former diplomats and business leaders, urged Ottawa to chart a new path for the Indo-Pacific region to diversify trade in Asia beyond China. The book, The Indo-Pacific: New Strategies for Canadian Engagement with a Critical Region, was released today and sets out to help influence the thinking of Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly as she outlines a new policy for the region.
Key takeaways for China watchers:
Canada needs to be prudent about the risks of deepening trade ties with a country that disregards basic human rights and defies trade and investment rules.
Ottawa should join the Quad, an informal diplomatic network of the U.S., Japan, Australia and India. The group has intensified its security and economic relations as tensions with China rise. The Australian government views the group as a key pillar in its foreign policy.
Canada should support Taiwan’s membership in the 11-country Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership, a free trade agreement in the Asia-Pacific region that doesn’t include China.
Canadian businesses need to focus on the Asian powerhouses especially India which is viewed as a significant counterweight to China.
An opportunity appears for Canada to provide liquefied natural gas to countries in the Indo-Pacific region as concerns rise over China’s interference in the Middle East.
ICYMI - Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly called out China’s abusive use of veto powers and its human rights violations in Xinjiang.
Australia
Business
Bubs Australia said that it had signed a joint venture agreement with a unit of Heilongjiang Ubeite Dairy Group to produce Chinese-labelled infant formula products to tap into the country's multibillion-dollar market. The Australian dairy company will own a 75 per cent stake in the joint venture and said the Chinese-labelled goat's milk formula is expected to hit the market in the second half of the 2023 fiscal year.
China’s EV maker Nio has agreed to pay US$12 million for a 12.16 per cent stake in Greenwing Resources, an Australian lithium mining company. Lithium carbonate prices in China hit a record 501,500 yuan (about 69,648 US dollars) in September, soaring over 80 per cent compared to the same period last year amid surging demand and lower supply.
The Australian currency has dropped 11 per cent against the greenback this year partly due to concern over the slowing economy in China, Australia’s largest trading partner.
ICYMI - China has softened its diplomatic stance, saying it’s willing to work with Australia to resolve their differences. But make no mistake, this gesture is not a strategy change on Beijing’s end.
Egypt
Education
Twelve middle schools from three governorates in Egypt will start offering Chinese language classes in the coming academic year. The pilot project was minted in an MOU between the countries in 2020. It includes a training program for teachers at the Confucius Institute at Cairo University.
Rehab Mahmoud, director of the institute, told Egyptian state television that the importance of learning the language stems from the importance of China as one of the most powerful countries in the world. According to the agreement, China would help Egypt upgrade its educational facilities, including establishing solar power plants and providing workshops for technical programs.
Egypt is hardly the first middle eastern country to implement a Chinese language curriculum. Some universities in Saudi Arabia have made it compulsory for first-year students to learn the language. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have both introduced Mandarin classes into public schools in 2020 and 2019 while deepening ties with Beijing. Local media showed their support for the programs, rolling out articles featuring students singing praises. However, critics said the hasty implementation and a flawed school system are likely to impede Saudi Arabia’s desired outcome of “preparing Chinese-speaking Saudi nationals and shifting their interest to the east.”
GCC
Transport
Container shipping rates from China to Egypt and the Arabian Gulf states have dropped by 30 to 40 per cent over the past three weeks.
The decreasing prices, however, don’t necessarily signal a major decline in the global market, Adel Al-Lama'i, head of the Chamber of Navigation in Port Said and member of the Egyptian Businessmen Association, told Al Arabiya this week.
While container shipping is costing less, Al-Lama’i said, rates for car transport (RORO), general cargo and breakbulk goods such as coal and wheat have remained high since 2020. He attributed the discrepancy to several reasons, including the repositioning of container ships by some freight companies.
Al-Lama’i was cautiously optimistic that the drop in shipping rates might lead to lower consumer prices.
The cost of shipping goods from China has slumped to the lowest level in more than two years as the world economy stumbles. Drewry said more declines are expected in the next few weeks.
Italy
Tech
An Italian mobile app startup received more funding from China’s multinational tech company Tencent in its new funding round. Satispay is a payment app that is now valued at more than 1 billion euros (US$955 million) after raising €320 million euros in new investments.
ICYM - Giorgia Meloni has become Italy’s new Prime Minister. The country’s “most far-right prime minister since Mussolini” promised a more aggressive approach towards China and stronger ties with Taiwan.
The one to read
The Australian Strategic Policy Institute published a report on how climate affects China's trade, tech, food and energy security. The study found climate change is “a major blind spot” for scholars of China's political and foreign policy future.
*Call for Action: Safeguard Defenders is inviting organizations and individuals to submit proposals for small projects aimed at empowering civil society and rights defenders in China. All parties are welcome to submit their ideas throughout October and November.