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ICAS Bulletin (online ISSN 2836-3418, print ISSN 2836-340X) is published every other week throughout the year at 1919 M St NW, Suite 310, Washington, DC 20036.
The online version of ICAS Bulletin can be found at chinaus-icas.org/bulletins/.
– On April 22, during a meeting with the Solomon Islands’ Prime Minister, a senior-level U.S. delegation expressed significant concerns about the establishment of a permanent Chinese military presence following China’s April 19 statement announcing the successful conclusion of a security pact with the Solomon Islands.
– On April 20, Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe and his US counterpart Lloyd Austin spoke for the first time in over a year to exchange views on Ukraine and Taiwan, highlighting key differences between the two sides.
– On April 15, China’s People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theater launched extensive naval and air exercises around Taiwan, in response to an unannounced trip to the Island by a six-member group of high-profile US lawmakers to show both bipartisan and the White House’s support.
– On April 12, the U.S. State Department highlighted China’s arrest of a veteran journalist and restrictive vetting of election candidates in Hong Kong in its annual human rights report, prompting a denunciation from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Associated News References: “U.S. warns of response to any permanent China military presence in Solomons”, Reuters, April 22 [Paywall] “US Pentagon Chief Speaks for 1st Time to Chinese Counterpart”, The Diplomat, April 20 [Paywall] “US officials heading to Solomons over China pact worries”, AP News, April 19 “US playing with fire over Taiwan, Beijing warns, as US Congress team pledges support for island in event of PLA attack”, South China Morning Post, April 15 [Paywall] “US spotlights Hong Kong elections in its criticism of China’s human rights record”, South China Morning Post, April 13 [Paywall]
– On April 21, Chinese foreign ministry senior official Tan Qingsheng denounced foreign powers for meddling in efforts to achieve sustainable development in the South China Sea at a panel discussion on the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan.
– On April 21, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed a “global security initiative” to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries during a video speech to the annual Boao Asia Forum.
– On April 21, Xi claimed the Chinese government supports talks to resolve international disputes and opposes “wanton use” of sanctions. His remarks reveal China’s continuous rejection to call the Russia-Ukraine conflict as an invasion.
– On April 11, Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong criticized U.S.’s current economic approach in Asia excluding China to be “unrealistic” and called for Washington to maintain “an overlapping and constructive engagement in the region.”
Associated News References: “South China Sea: ‘external forces’ meddling in disputes, Chinese official says”, South China Morning Post, April 22 [Paywall] “China’s Xi proposes ‘global security initiative’, without giving details”, Reuters, April 21 [Paywall] “China’s Xi urges talks to settle disputes, opposes sanctions”, AP News, April 21 “Singapore’s Lee cautions US against ‘everyone but China’ approach in Asia engagement, says ‘more pleased’ if Hong Kong expats stayed put”, South China Morning Post, April 11 [Paywall]
– On April 20, the National People’s Congress of China signed onto the Forced Labor Convention and Abolition of Forced Labor Convention, amid criticism over its treatment of the Uyghur ethnic minority.
– China’s top offshore oil and gas producer, CNOOC Ltd., is prepared to exit its operations in Britain, Canada, and the U.S due to growing tension and sanctions.
– On April 13, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned that China must “make something positive” and “help to end” Russia’s war in Ukraine or face challenges to its global “economic integration” at an Atlantic Council event.
– On April 12, Joseph Yam Chi-kwong, the former chief executive of Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), said that the U.S. has “weaponised” financial markets through sanctions on Russia, which he called a “stupid and crazy” strategy that will undermine the US dollar’s status as the world’s reserve currency.
Associated News References: “China Signs Forced Labor Treaties as Xinjiang Scrutiny Grows”, Bloomberg, April 19 [Paywall] “Exclusive: China’s oil champion prepares Western retreat over sanctions fear”, Reuters, April 13 [Paywall] “Yellen to China: Help stop Russia’s war in Ukraine or lose standing in the world”, Reuters, April 13 [Paywall] “US sanctions are ‘stupid and crazy’, former Hong Kong finance chief says”, South China Morning Post, April 12 [Paywall]
– Over the past two months, overseas investors have offloaded more than $7 billion worth of Chinese-listed stocks via exchange links with Hong Kong.
– On April 13, Chinese government bond yields fell below their American counterparts for the first time in decades after yuan-denominated debt investors cut their holdings by more than $15 billion last month amid new geopolitical tensions and stalling Chinese growth. The U.S. is factoring in inflation’s role in this yield inversion.
– Due to pressure from COVID lockdowns and the war in Ukraine, Chinese imports fell by 0.1 percent in March, a sudden collapse compared to a 15.5 percent increase in imports from January and February combined.
– On April 22, the vice-chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, announced that he expects a deal soon with U.S. authorities that will enable Chinese companies to comply with U.S. audits and avoid delisting.
Associated News References: “Higher inflation factors into review of tariffs on Chinese goods-White House”, Reuters, April 26 [Paywall] “China securities watchdog expects audit deal soon with U.S. regulators”, Reuters, April 22 [Paywall] “IMF Says China’s Outflows Show Deepening Divergence With U.S.”, Bloomberg, April 19 [Paywall] “U.S. and Chinese Bond Yields Converge, Reversing a Decadelong Pattern”, The Wall Street Journal, April 13 [Paywall] “China imports ‘collapsed’ due to ‘sudden factors’, but export growth strong”, South China Morning Post, April 13 [Paywall]
– On April 19, the White House stated that it is banning its own anti-satellite weapons testing and hopes to establish a new norm in space security to avert an arms race. In the announcement, Vice President Harris highlighted an anti-satellite test conducted by Russia last November that launched over 1,500 pieces of space debris towards the International Space Station, calling it “reckless” and “irresponsible.” China conducted a similar test in 2007.
– On April 16, three Chinese astronauts returned to earth after a 180-day mission aboard the country’s independent Tiangong orbital station. China’s space agency is planning three more launches next month including another crew headed towards the partly-built station.
– On April 13, a report by the Pentagon’s Intelligence Agency stated that both China and Russia are developing weapons that could attack U.S. satellites.
Associated News References: “White House commits to barring anti-satellite missile tests”, AP News, April 19 “Chinese Astronauts Land After Six Months in Space”, Time Magazine, April 16 [Paywall] “China and Russia seek weapons to hit US satellites, Pentagon says”, South China Morning Post, April 13 [Paywall]
“Beijing kicks off mass testing after spike in Covid cases”, BBC News, April 25
“China’s Zero COVID Policy to Renew US West Coast Port Congestion”, The Diplomat, April 25 [Paywall]
“Skadden loses top lawyer to ByteDance amid China IPO chill”, Financial Times, April 25 [Paywall]
“Taiwan’s share of contract chipmaking to hit 66% this year: report”, Nikkei Asia, April 25 [Paywall]
“Tibet’s leader seeks U.S. action to end China’s ‘cultural eradication’”, BBC News, April 25
“China’s Universities Are Hot On U.S. Heels As Investment Pays Off”, Forbes, April 25 [Paywall]
“U.S. Says Backs Lithuania in Row With China”, U.S. News, April 22
“Chinese court sentences US citizen Shadeed Abdulmateen to death for murder”, CNN, April 22
“US lawmakers affirm Japan alliance eyeing China, North Korea”, The Independent, April 16 [Paywall]
“Tim Cook of Apple and financier Ray Dalio should register as agents for China, US panel hears”, South China Morning Post, April 15 [Paywall]
“South Korean President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol unveils foreign policy goals”, The Washington Post, April 14 [Paywall]
Our co-hosted event on Middle Power Countries’ Perceptions on U.S.-China Relations was sucessfully completed. ICAS, University of Alberta China Institute, and Grandview Institution thanks all five of our speakers for sharing their expertise and unique perspectives on five different middle power countries as they relate to U.S.-China relations. A full summary and recording of the event are available below:
On April 18, 2022, ICAS Senior Fellow Sourabh Gupta participated in a webinar, The Cognitive Warfare in the Russia-Ukraine Conflict, co-hosted by the Global Governance Institution and Centre For New Inclusive Asia.
You can learn more about the event, the other participating speakers, view the recordings, and read a summary of the event published in the South China Morning Post from the links below:
by Nong Hong
April 21, 2022
While the South Pacific is looking to be an emerging arena of greater competition with China on one side and the US and its allies on the other, US-based academic Hong Nong also sees that areas of common interest could still drive cooperation between them, depending on which direction the pendulum swings.
In February, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Fiji, a major power in the South Pacific, marking the first such visit in four decades. Analysts see Blinken’s visit as being motivated by a desire for the US to strengthen its presence in the region to match the growing influence of China.
Interestingly, during the period of Blinken’s visit, a fleet of Chinese naval vessels was sailing into Tonga to deliver tsunami relief supplies. With China’s growing interest and presence in the South Pacific Ocean, and signs that the US is unveiling new strategies to better engage with the South Pacific nations, will the South Pacific Ocean become a major strategic battleground along the lines of the South China Sea, or will enough common interests facilitate cooperation?
On Friday, April 22, 2022, Senior Fellow Sourabh Gupta discussed Xi Jinping’s keynote address at the Boao Forum on CGTN’s The Heat.
On Saturday, April 23, 2022, Senior Fellow Sourabh Gupta was quoted by China Daily on President Xi Jinping’s keynote speech at the Boao Forum for Asia.
The Institute for China-America Studies is an independent nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization dedicated to strengthening the understanding of U.S.-China relations through expert analysis and practical policy solutions.
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