China
Chinese Online Community Reacts to Bin Laden Death
This post has been updated since it was initially published (see below). Those who follow the chatter on Chinese social media sites are familiar with the pattern by now: More extreme comments enter the conversation early and while the more thoughtful comments don’t come until later. Rumors of Osama bin Laden’s death began to spread on Sina Weibo, China’s most active microblogging service, at least an hour before President Obama’s speech. The news was initially greeted with messages of shock and disbelief mixed with expressions of regret at the Al Qaeda founder’s passing – the latter reflective of an extreme form of anti-Americanism that spouts from the lips of ultra-nationalists, fanned in recent years by hawkish elements in the media and security forces. “Deeply mourning Bin Laden,” wrote Weibo user Jiajia Nuwu in comments echoed fairly widely across the site. “Yet another anti-American hero is lost.” “Is this real? Excellent!” wrote another. “Now the only terrorist left is the United States!” It’s hard to assess how widespread such sentiments are in Chinese society. The Chinese blogosphere provides an outlet for so-called “angry youth,” whose online ranting at the U.S. is sometimes assumed to be a proxy for a rebellion against domestic authority. It’s far less risky to lash out against foreigners than Chinese officials. Such comments do not appear to reflect mainstream views in a country that holds fairly deep reservations about the way America wields its power in the world, but still has plenty of affection for Americans and their culture. Still, in China more than a few people cheered the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and where Mr. bin Laden has sometimes been lauded for his willingness to take on the U.S. Other Weibo commenters, however, appeared happy about Mr. bin Laden’s death, partly because the terrorist leader’s political agenda posed a direct threat to security in China’s northwestern territory of Xinjiang. “Thank you America for helping us,” wrote user Zhaoling Tongzi, noting Beijing’s assertion that that the Al Qaeda leader had supported a Muslim separatist movement in Xinjiang. “He wasn’t a friend. He was an enemy.” On Twitter, which is blocked in China and thus tends to be used mostly by tech-savvy Chinese activists and intellectuals willing to circumvent China’s Internet censors, many users parsed news of Mr. bin Laden’s death through the lens of Chinese politics. “Some countries use 10 years in pursuit of justice while others need 100 years just to discover the definition of justice,” Internet entrepreneur Isaac Mao, often described as China’s first blogger, wrote on his Twitter account in veiled reference to Beijing’s unwillingness to admit its past political mistakes. In another oblique reference to Chinese politics, a number of Chinese Twitter users passed around a message reading: “Of the ten most evil people in the world, the U.S. has killed one. Now there are nine left.” Nine is the number of members on the Chinese Communist Party’s ruling Politburo Standing Committee. One Chinese Twitter user joked that Mr. bin Laden’s death meant the title of world’s top terrorist should go to Fang Binxing, the widely reviled “father” of China’s Great Firewall [http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2010/12/20/father-of-chinas-great-firewall-shouted-off-own-microblog/] In a more analytical vein, former journalist and prominent political blogger Wen Yunchao argued on his Twitter account that the death of Mr. bin Laden would have consequences for China’s foreign policy. “In the past, the U.S. needed China to joint the fight against terrorism and so made a more than a few concessions,” Mr. Wen wrote. “Now that bin Laden is dead, there’s one less constraint. The Free World now has more power to encircle China on the issue of universal values.” Twitter didn’t have the monopoly on backhanded political commentary. Responding to another user’s repetition of a conspiracy theory popular on Sina that the U.S. long ago captured Mr. bin Laden and only chose to announce it now to manipulate the American electorate in Mr. Obama’s favor, a Weibo user going by the name Xiang Shijie wrote: “That makes sense. Americans appear to have thoroughly studied Chinese tactics.” UPDATE: This post has been updated to include additional context on the nature of Chinese Internet commentary. –Josh Chin. Follow him on Twitter @joshchin .
This post has been updated since it was initially published (see below). Those who follow the chatter on Chinese social media sites are familiar with the pattern by now: More extreme comments enter the conversation early and while the more thoughtful comments don’t come until later. Rumors of Osama bin Laden’s death began to spread on Sina Weibo, China’s most active microblogging service, at least an hour before President Obama’s speech. The news was initially greeted with messages of shock and disbelief mixed with expressions of regret at the Al Qaeda founder’s passing – the latter reflective of an extreme form of anti-Americanism that spouts from the lips of ultra-nationalists, fanned in recent years by hawkish elements in the media and security forces. “Deeply mourning Bin Laden,” wrote Weibo user Jiajia Nuwu in comments echoed fairly widely across the site. “Yet another anti-American hero is lost.” “Is this real? Excellent!” wrote another. “Now the only terrorist left is the United States!” It’s hard to assess how widespread such sentiments are in Chinese society. The Chinese blogosphere provides an outlet for so-called “angry youth,” whose online ranting at the U.S. is sometimes assumed to be a proxy for a rebellion against domestic authority. It’s far less risky to lash out against foreigners than Chinese officials. Such comments do not appear to reflect mainstream views in a country that holds fairly deep reservations about the way America wields its power in the world, but still has plenty of affection for Americans and their culture. Still, in China more than a few people cheered the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and where Mr. bin Laden has sometimes been lauded for his willingness to take on the U.S. Other Weibo commenters, however, appeared happy about Mr. bin Laden’s death, partly because the terrorist leader’s political agenda posed a direct threat to security in China’s northwestern territory of Xinjiang. “Thank you America for helping us,” wrote user Zhaoling Tongzi, noting Beijing’s assertion that that the Al Qaeda leader had supported a Muslim separatist movement in Xinjiang. “He wasn’t a friend. He was an enemy.” On Twitter, which is blocked in China and thus tends to be used mostly by tech-savvy Chinese activists and intellectuals willing to circumvent China’s Internet censors, many users parsed news of Mr. bin Laden’s death through the lens of Chinese politics. “Some countries use 10 years in pursuit of justice while others need 100 years just to discover the definition of justice,” Internet entrepreneur Isaac Mao, often described as China’s first blogger, wrote on his Twitter account in veiled reference to Beijing’s unwillingness to admit its past political mistakes. In another oblique reference to Chinese politics, a number of Chinese Twitter users passed around a message reading: “Of the ten most evil people in the world, the U.S. has killed one. Now there are nine left.” Nine is the number of members on the Chinese Communist Party’s ruling Politburo Standing Committee. One Chinese Twitter user joked that Mr. bin Laden’s death meant the title of world’s top terrorist should go to Fang Binxing, the widely reviled “father” of China’s Great Firewall [http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2010/12/20/father-of-chinas-great-firewall-shouted-off-own-microblog/] In a more analytical vein, former journalist and prominent political blogger Wen Yunchao argued on his Twitter account that the death of Mr. bin Laden would have consequences for China’s foreign policy. “In the past, the U.S. needed China to joint the fight against terrorism and so made a more than a few concessions,” Mr. Wen wrote. “Now that bin Laden is dead, there’s one less constraint. The Free World now has more power to encircle China on the issue of universal values.” Twitter didn’t have the monopoly on backhanded political commentary. Responding to another user’s repetition of a conspiracy theory popular on Sina that the U.S. long ago captured Mr. bin Laden and only chose to announce it now to manipulate the American electorate in Mr. Obama’s favor, a Weibo user going by the name Xiang Shijie wrote: “That makes sense. Americans appear to have thoroughly studied Chinese tactics.” UPDATE: This post has been updated to include additional context on the nature of Chinese Internet commentary. –Josh Chin. Follow him on Twitter @joshchin .
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Chinese Online Community Reacts to Bin Laden Death
Business
China and the UK Resume Economic and Financial Discussions After Six-Year Break
China and Britain resumed economic talks after six years, aiming to improve relations. Chancellor Reeves seeks cooperation but raises concerns over Russia’s support and Hong Kong’s civil liberties.
Resumption of Talks
Taipei, Taiwan (AP) — China and the United Kingdom have reignited economic discussions after a six-year pause, spurred by British Treasury Chief Rachel Reeves’ recent visit to Beijing. The Labour government aims to mend strained relations with China, the world’s second-largest economy. Reeves met with Chinese leaders and underscored the necessity for a "stable, pragmatic" partnership, emphasizing collaboration on mutual interests while maintaining transparency in disagreements.
Economic Collaboration
During her talks, Reeves sought to address key issues such as reducing economic support to Russia and advocating for basic rights in Hong Kong. Both nations signed agreements expected to infuse £600 million ($732 million) into the U.K. economy over the next five years. These agreements target crucial sectors including finance, with Reeves emphasizing that this renewed engagement may generate up to £1 billion for the U.K.
National Security Concerns
While seeking better ties, there are mounting concerns regarding national security and human rights abuses in China. Critics from the opposition have questioned the balance between economic opportunities and safeguarding Britain’s interests. Reeves acknowledged the importance of national security but highlighted the need for pragmatic relations with global partners, stating that ignoring China is not a viable option for the U.K.’s economic future.
Source : China and the UK restart economic and financial talks after a 6-year hiatus
China
Indonesia Needs to Take a Critical Stance on China’s Global Order Vision
During his visit to China, Indonesian President Prabowo secured $10 billion in investments and issued a Joint Statement, raising concerns about Indonesia’s neutrality amid China’s global vision and territorial claims.
Indonesian President’s Visit to China
During his visit to China from November 8 to 10, 2024, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto secured a remarkable US$10 billion in investments and issued the Joint Statement on Advancing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This document has raised eyebrows as it suggests alignment with China’s global vision, potentially undermining Indonesia’s traditionally impartial stance among major powers. Notably, it includes discussions on joint development in areas with overlapping territorial claims, despite Indonesia being a non-claimant in the contentious South China Sea.
Strengthening Bilateral Relations
President Prabowo considers China a significant partner, reflecting on centuries of bilateral collaboration. This visit highlights Indonesia’s commitment to enhancing cooperation across various sectors, including technology and green energy. China also pledged support for Prabowo’s free meal program, which is part of Indonesia’s larger Food Supplementation and School Feeding initiative, reinforcing the ties between the two nations.
Implications of the Joint Statement
The Joint Statement emphasized shared aspirations for the future but also raised concerns about Indonesia’s strategic positioning. By commending China’s narrative, particularly the concept of a "community with a shared future," Indonesia may inadvertently compromise its neutrality amid major power rivalries. Given the complexities surrounding this language, it is crucial for Indonesia to approach such statements carefully to uphold its independent foreign policy.
Source : Indonesia must be critical of China’s global order vision
China
Cross-Border Data Transfers: New Draft Guidelines Clarify Certification for Personal Information Protection
China’s draft measures for personal information protection in cross-border data transfers clarify certification procedures, eligibility, and requirements. Released by the Cyberspace Administration, they aim to enhance data governance and privacy, ensuring compliance and safeguarding personal information in international exchanges.
China’s new draft measures provide clarity on the certification process for personal information protection in cross-border data transfers (CBDT). Aimed at enhancing data governance, safeguarding privacy, and ensuring regulatory compliance, the draft measures outline eligibility criteria for applying the certification mechanism, specify the requirements, and detail the certification procedures.
On January 3, 2025, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) issued a draft document titled Measures for the Certification of Personal Information Protection for Cross-Border Data Transfers (hereinafter, draft measures) for public consultation. The draft measures, comprising 20 detailed articles, outline a comprehensive framework for certifying the security and compliance of personal data transfers beyond China’s borders.
With the feedback deadline set for February 3, 2025, the draft measures represent a crucial step in China’s broader strategy to strengthen data governance, ensure cybersecurity, and address global concerns over the safety of cross-border information flows.
Article 3 of the draft measures defines “PI protection certification” in cross-border data transfers as the formal evaluation process carried out by bodies authorized by the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR).
These certification bodies are responsible for assessing the compliance of personal information processors with the requirements of secure cross-border data transfers. The certification ensures that processors—whether domestic or foreign—adhere to the stringent criteria set out in the regulations, thereby protecting individuals’ personal information while enabling international data exchanges. Certified entities must demonstrate their capacity to manage cross-border data transfers in compliance with the standards laid out by the CAC and SAMR.
The certification process not only verifies compliance but also serves as an assurance to the public and regulatory authorities that the certified processors meet the required data protection measures.
Moreover, the scope of “cross-border data transfers” encompasses several scenarios where personal information moves across national boundaries. These include:
This article was first published by China Briefing , which is produced by Dezan Shira & Associates. The firm assists foreign investors throughout Asia from offices across the world, including in in China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore, and India . Readers may write to info@dezshira.com for more support. |
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