---
### [Beijing facing 'most severe Covid test' as China reports first deaths in six months](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-63700291)
> *"In Beijing, officials have already implemented a lockdown in the Haidian and Chaoyang districts, with shops, schools and restaurants closed."*
--- Are they admitting that it is a lockdown, now?
> *"Millions of other people across the vast country are also under Covid lockdowns, as cases continue to soar despite the efforts of authorities. On Sunday, 24,730 new cases were recorded, nearing the country's daily infection peak in April."*
--- Back then cases were mostly concentrated in Shanghai, though. Now there are outbreaks virtually everywhere.
> *"Elsewhere, Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, has tested positive for Covid, the day after he met Chinese President Xi Jinping at a summit in Thailand."*
--- Will emperor Xi disappear again for several weeks? After all, he usually didn't even wear a mask on his trip.
---
### [China’s Covid fatalities test commitment to relaxing restrictions](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/21/chinas-covid-fatalities-test-commitment-to-relaxing-restrictions)
> *"China’s first Covid-19 fatalities in six months and a sharp rise in reported cases are testing the government’s recent commitment to ease restrictions of its stringent Covid curbs"*
--- Huh? Did I miss something? When was there ever such a commitment?
> *"Beijing municipal health commission called for “the unity of thinking” and “unswerving implementation” of the “dynamic Zero Covid” policy. It urged people to guard against a resurgence of cases and said measures must be “strict”, appropriate and effective to reduce cross infections in society, calling on districts with high infection rates to allow flexible work arrangement and online teaching, and control the flow of people in public places and arrange for PCR tests"*
--- & nothing much has changed in this recently.
> *"Several Chinese cities began cutting routine community Covid-19 testing last week, including the northern city of Shijiazhuang, which stoked speculation that it could be a testbed for policy relaxation. But late on Sunday, Shijiazhuang announced it would conduct mass testing in six of its eight districts over the next five days after new daily local cases hit 641."*
--- So much for this 'experiment'. & the testing requirements were the only area where you could speak of some sort of 'easing'. Even so, we already saw in other places where there were larger outbreaks, that even mass testing is still part of the playbook.
> *"while the government told local authorities in the 11 November announcement to be more targeted in their clampdown measures and refrain from indiscriminate overenforcement of antivirus policies, senior officials and state media repeatedly insisted in past days that China’s “war” against the pandemic remains firmly in place."*
--- Exactly. So, I don't really see where this talk of a 'commitment' comes from.
> *"after the announcement, many cities have even stepped up restrictions.
“They would rather be too strict than to shoulder the blame. The enforcers need to strictly implement [zero Covid] policies to keep their jobs and to remain politically correct; they won’t care about the impact on the population,”"*
--- & that's how it is.
---
### [China locks down key transportation hub; markets fear economic fallout](https://edition.cnn.com/2022/11/21/economy/guangzhou-china-renewed-lockdowns-guangzhou-markets-intl-hnk/index.html)
> *"In recent days, China had begun to ease its harsh Covid restrictions, which had crippled local and international businesses for months. But, experts are worried that Beijing’s resolve to reopen the country may weaken now as cases rise once again."*
--- Which friggin' 'resolve to reopen'? CNN, just like The Guardian above, seems to be into wishful thinking.
> *"Guangzhou, one of China’s largest cities with nearly 19 million residents, imposed a five-day lockdown in Baiyun district, which is home to one of the country’s busiest airports. Baiyun is also the most populous district in Guangzhou, housing 3.7 million people."*
--- Oops. Seems like at least half of the city is in proper lockdown now.
> *"On November 11, the central government eased some of its strict Covid restrictions. The move fueled hopes that China was shifting away from its draconian zero-tolerance approach, which had crippled its economy and largely isolated the country from the rest of the world for the past few years.
Markets rallied following the move, with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index up a combined 14% over three sessions and entering a technical bull market last Tuesday.
But the fresh lockdowns hit market sentiment on Monday
[...] Goldman Sachs analysts said that the latest news on China’s Covid management has been “confusing” to investors."*
--- Well, the more I see 'market' reactions to Chinese policies, the more I'm convinced that 'investors' are morons. A flock of sheep, driven around by a crazy sheepdog.
### [China’s Xi attempts to claim diplomatic victory in battle for global influence after summit whirlwind](https://edition.cnn.com/2022/11/21/china/china-xi-diplomatic-victory-intl-hnk/index.html)
> *"Over the two summits, Xi held a total of 20 bilateral meetings in a schedule so packed it sometimes stretched late into the night. He also made a point of holding most of the meetings in his hotel.
The optics speak for themselves.
“All the leaders were lining up patiently to meet the ‘emperor’ of China,”"*
--- That's how it looked.
> *"This time around, Xi appeared much more comfortable being maskless. He also attended the Group of 20 dinner, where he shook hands and chatted with leaders including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
[...] Having had a taste of what living with Covid could look like in Bali and Bangkok, Xi returned Saturday to a China under siege from rising infections and tightening restrictions in many cities."*
--- That proves it! He wants to open up! He wants to relax zero-Covid! There is your resolve. There is your commitment.
### [Chinese Coast Guard Seizes Rocket Debris From Filipino Navy](https://www.voanews.com/a/chinese-coast-guard-seizes-rocket-debris-from-filipino-navy/6843204.html)
> *"the Filipino sailors, using a long-range camera on Thitu island, spotted the debris drifting in waves near a sandbar about 540 meters away. They set out on a boat and retrieved the floating object and started to tow it back to their island using a rope tied to their boat.
As the Filipino sailors were moving back to their island, "they noticed that China coast guard vessel with bow number 5203 was approaching their location and subsequently blocked their pre-plotted course twice," Carlos said in a statement.
The Chinese coast guard vessel then deployed an inflatable boat with personnel who "forcefully retrieved said floating object by cutting the towing line attached to the" Filipino sailors' rubber boat."*
--- China rules the waves.
For what I understand, that happened in actual Philippine territorial waters. So much for China's respect for territorial integrity & sovereignty.
But, hey, nothing really happened, acc. to China:
---
### [Philippines and China tussle over retrieving rocket debris floating in disputed South China Sea](https://edition.cnn.com/2022/11/21/asia/space-debris-china-intl/index.html)
> *"Mao denied any confrontation and told reporters “there was no so-called interception and seizure at the scene.”
“After identifying it as the debris of a rocket fairing recently launched by China, local personnel first salvaged and towed the floating object. After friendly negotiations between the two sides, the Philippine side returned the floating object to the Chinese side on the spot, and Chinese personnel expressed their gratitude to the Philippine side,”"*
--- China, the friend of all. Friendly to everybody. The ugly USA on the other hand bullies those poor Filipinos: [Harris: US will back Philippines if attacked in South China Sea](https://www.rfa.org/english/news/pacific/harris-11212022143059.html)
### [New HKW report finds that 11 UK local pension funds are passively funding crimes against humanity in Xinjiang](https://www.hongkongwatch.org/all-posts/2022/11/21/new-hkw-report-finds-that-11-uk-local-pension-funds-are-passively-funding-crimes-against-humanity-in-xinjiang)
> *"11 local pension funds in the UK are passively invested in at least 13 Chinese companies where there is credible evidence of involvement in Uyghur forced labour programs and construction of internment camps in Xinjiang.
Through passive investment via Morgan Stanley’s (MSCI) Emerging Markets Index Fund, the 11 local pension funds in question, which include 4 pooled regional pension schemes, are exposing the pensions of local public sector workers to companies complicit in forced labour and crimes against humanity"*
--- Hey! It's just money! No morals involved.
### [Qatar Signs 27-Year Deal With China as LNG Competition Heats Up](https://www.voanews.com/a/qatar-signs-27-year-deal-with-china-as-lng-competition-heats-up/6843748.html)
> *"QatarEnergy has signed a 27-year deal to supply China's Sinopec with liquefied natural gas (LNG), the longest such LNG agreement so far as volatile markets drive buyers to seek long-term deals."Today is an important milestone for the first sales and purchase agreement (SPA) for North Field East project, it is 4 million tons for 27 years to Sinopec of China,""*
--- Must be part of that great zero-carbon strategy of China.
### [Younger Workers Spurn Factory Jobs that Power China's Economy](https://www.voanews.com/a/younger-workers-spurn-factory-jobs-that-power-china-s-economy/6843247.html)
> *"Factory bosses say they would produce more, and faster, with younger blood replacing their aging workforce. But offering the higher wages and better working conditions that younger Chinese want would risk eroding their competitive advantage.
And smaller manufacturers say large investments in automation technology are either unaffordable or imprudent when rising inflation and borrowing costs are curbing demand in China's key export markets.
More than 80% of Chinese manufacturers faced labor shortages ranging from hundreds to thousands of workers this year, equivalent to 10% to 30% of their workforce
[...] On paper, labor is in no short supply: roughly 18% of Chinese ages 16-24 are unemployed. This year alone, a cohort of 10.8 million graduates entered a job market that, besides manufacturing, is very subdued."*
--- Not unlike what happened in more developed countries decades ago. Other than European countries, though, China will not rely on imported labour.
But fear not, dear industries, the CCP got your back. If you are in real trouble, emperor Xi will simply send the youth to the workbench.
---
---
#### [T. rex auction cancelled after skeleton doubts raised](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-63700297) (A faked skeleton? Hmm, where might it come from?)
---
#### [Takeaways From China’s Zhuhai Air Show 2022](https://thediplomat.com/2022/11/takeaways-from-chinas-zhuhai-air-show-2022/)
---
#### [Thai police hold Chinese dissident after lone Bangkok protest against Xi Jinping](https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/dissident-11212022104301.html)
---
#### [China boosts efforts to control Western infrastructure, key industries - NATO](https://www.yahoo.com/news/china-boosts-efforts-control-western-103349042.html)
---
#### [China's Manchester consulate clash investigation ongoing](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-63705460)
---
---
### --- China Uncensored: "Countries Launch Investigations into Chinese Police Force"
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5URC15lXAKc" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
### --- DW News: "China reports first coronavirus deaths in 6 months"
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mdBBDKnqwMg" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
---
---
### [What happens when you go out to by medicine.](https://twitter.com/songpinganq/status/1594773644454002688)
---
---
### [Zahl der Corona-Fälle in China steigt](https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/asien/china-kaempft-mit-corona-101.html)
> *"In mehreren Pekinger Bezirken begann deshalb die Schule am Montag im Online-Unterricht, im Diplomatenviertel Chaoyang wurden 3,5 Millionen Menschen aufgefordert, das Haus nicht zu verlassen."*
--- Die Tagesschau hinkt mal wieder etwas hinterher. Haidian & Chaoyang sind quasi im Lockdown. & Chaoyang ist nicht 'das Diplomatenviertel'. Das Diplomatenviertel liegt in Chaoyang, ist aber nur ein kleiner Teil.
> *"Ein aktueller Schwerpunkt der Neuinfektionen in China ist den Behörden zufolge Guangzhou in der Provinz Guangdong. Allein hier wurden 9085 Neuinfektionen gemeldet. Die Konsequenz für einen Teil der 15 Millionen Einwohner in der Metropole ist ein Lockdown - vorerst für eine Woche. Knapp vier Millionen Menschen sind davon betroffen."*
--- Kanton in Kanton. & auch hier hinkt es. Baiyun ist zu den Bezirken im Lockdown dazugekommen. Die 4 mio. kommen also obendrauf.
> *"Dennoch wurde bereits die Quarantäne bei der Einreise auf fünf Tage verkürzt, die Teststrategie soll zielgerichteter werden. Weniger Massentests, mehr Freiheiten, so lautet eigentlich die Devise."*
--- Eigentlich. Oder auch nicht.
> *"Vergangene Woche erst hatten einige Städte damit begonnen, die routinemäßigen Corona-Tests zu streichen. Nun die Rolle rückwärts: Shijiazhuang, eine der Metropolen, die als Testfeld für Lockerungen gehandelt wurde, kündigte nun doch wieder Massentestungen an."*
--- Einige Städte. Höre aber immer nur von Shijiazhuang.
> *"Den asiatischen Märkten und Chinas Handelspartnern bereitet die Lage zunehmend Kopfzerbrechen."*
--- Gähn. Die Märkte sind sowieso bekloppt.
---
### [China verhängt die nächsten Lockdowns](https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/ausland/corona-auf-dem-vormarsch-china-verhaengt-die-naechsten-lockdowns-18476961.html)
> *"Bei der Konferenz der Asiatisch-Pazifischen Wirtschaftskooperation (Apec) in Bangkok hatte Xi ohne Maske neben dem Hongkonger Regierungschef John Lee gesessen, der nach seiner Rückkehr positiv auf Covid getestet worden war."*
--- Der arme, alte Mann. Müssen wir uns jetzt Sorgen um ihn machen? Wird er wieder für 2 Wochen verschwinden?
### [Zwischenfall vor Harris-Besuch: China blockiert philippinisches Militärschiff](https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/zwischenfall-vor-harris-besuch-china-blockiert-philippinisches-militarschiff-8900119.html)
> *"Das Team sei am Sonntag dabei gewesen, nicht näher identifizierte Metalltrümmer nahe einer von den Philippinen beanspruchten Insel aus dem Meer zu holen, als die chinesische Küstenwache eingeschritten sei und das Metallobjekt an sich genommen habe
[...] Der Vorfall ereignete sich rund 700 Meter vor der Küste der Insel Pag-asa. Sie gehört zu den Spratly-Inseln im Südchinesischen Meer, die verschiedene Staaten beanspruchen. Pag-asa ist die größte der von den Philippinen verwalteten Inseln der Gruppe."*
--- Also in philippinischen Territorialgewässern. Aber sowas kümmert die VRC natürlich nicht. Ist alles Chinesisch, wenn die KPCh es sagt.
---
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#### [Katar liefert LNG an China](https://www.tagesschau.de/wirtschaft/unternehmen/katar-china-lng-liefervertrag-gas-gasliefervertrag-russland-sinopec-101.html)
---
[](https://ecency.com)
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