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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/.
– The U.S. and Australia have announced they will partner in a bid to develop advanced AI-manned submarine technology to defend against China.
– A memo was distributed to U.S. Air Force personnel stating that the Chinese military is targeting former and current U.S. service members to obtain their specialized knowledge.
– Both the House of Representatives China Select Committee and the FCC have declared Chinese technology companies Quectel and Fibocom national security risks.
– The Pentagon provided details about their plans to implement a vast network of AI-powered defense and weapon technology, which they say are meant to counter threats from China and other adversaries.
– Newly released information by Microsoft says that in 2021 the Chinese government hacked into the emails of top Biden administration officials following various technical missteps by Microsoft.
– U.S. officials have noted as many as 100 Chinese nationals accessed military sites in recent years in actions described as forms of espionage seemingly to test security practices. The Chinese Embassy spokesperson called the claims “purely ill-intentioned fabrications” in response.
Associated News References:
“In U.S.-China AI contest, the race is on to deploy killer robots,” Reuters, September 8
“China’s military seeks to exploit U.S. troops, veterans, general warns,” The Washington Post, September 7 [Paywall]
“US FCC chair says China’s Quectel, Fibocom may pose national security risks,” Reuters, September 6
“Pentagon Plans Vast AI Fleet to Counter China Threat,” The Wall Street Journal, September 6 [Paywall]
“China’s Microsoft Email Cloud Hack Began With a 2021 Computer Crash,” The Wall Street Journal, September 6 [Paywall]
“Chinese Gate-Crashers at U.S. Bases Spark Espionage Concerns,” The Wall Street Journal. September 4 [Paywall]
– Following previous restrictions, the Chinese government expanded a ban on iPhone usage from only government officials to include government-backed agencies and state companies.
– The U.S. Commerce Department recently began an investigation into a new smartphone chip developed by Chinese technology company Huawei.
– While U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo was visiting Beijing, Chinese technology company Huawei unveiled a new smartphone with 5G capabilities and new chip despite reported attempts by some in Washington to curtail such developments.
– Chinese central government agencies ordered employees not to bring in foreign-branded devices to work, especially Apple iPhones. This restriction follows a trend by Beijing to cut reliance on foreign technology.
– Huawei’s new phone launch has ignited fears amidst Western observers that U.S. sanctions have failed to prevent China from making key technological advances.
– Chinese state media openly endorses the new Huawei phone, with Chinese outlet Global Times stating that the new smartphone “serves as a microcosm of the US-China tech war.”
Associated News References:
“China Seeks to Broaden iPhone Ban to State Firms, Agencies,” Bloomberg, September 7 [Paywall]
“US Probes Made-in-China Chip as Tensions Flare Over Technology,” Bloomberg, September 7 [Paywall]
“Huawei Phone Is Latest Shot Fired in the U.S.-China Tech War,” The New York Times, September 6 [Paywall]
“China Bans iPhone Use for Government Officials at Work,” The Wall Street Journal, September 6 [Paywall]
“US Wants Details on Made-in-China Huawei Chip,” Bloomberg, September 6 [Paywall]
“New phone sparks worry China has found a way around U.S. tech limits,” The Washington Post, September 2 [Paywall]
“China State Media Declares Huawei Phone a Victory in US Tech War,” Bloomberg, August 31 [Paywall]
– U.S. President Biden urged other leaders at the G20 summit in New Delhi, India to provide more funding to the World Bank, in order to “offer a credible alternative to the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC)…projects for developing countries around the world.”
– Several world leaders at the two-day summit, including President Biden, promised to support a new rail and shipping corridor that would connect India and Europe through the Middle East in what many see as a counter to China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
– As reported by President Biden, the President held talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, who attended the Summit in place of President Xi Jinping. “We talked about stability…it wasn’t confrontational at all,” said Biden.
– While traveling to India for the G20 summit, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan rejected China’s reported proposition that progress on the climate crisis be tied to semiconductor chip access.
– Biden plans on making reforms at the International Monetary Fund that will increase its lending firepower and refocus its efforts toward financial stability, one of his key messages.
– Biden says that he is disappointed that his counterpart Xi did not attend the G20 summit in India, but noted that he is “going to get to see him” at one point.
Associated News References:
“To counter China, Biden is backing the World Bank for a bigger role on the global stage,” CNBC, September 11
“Biden meets Li Qiang, says China economic ‘crisis’ makes Taiwan invasion less likely,” Reuters. September 10
“At G-20, Biden announces ambitious corridor connecting India, Europe,” The Washington Post, September 9 [Paywall]
“US Rejects China’s Bid to Hold Climate ‘Hostage’ Over Chips,” Bloomberg, September 8 [Paywall]
“US Calls on IMF to Reload and Refocus Amid China Pushback,” Bloomberg, September 7 [Paywall]
“Biden disappointed Xi will not attend G20 summit,” BBC News, September 4
– On September 12, the State Department announced U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken may host China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi in the United States before year-end, whether at the U.N. General Assembly or after.
– On his return from the G20 Summit in India, President Biden made an official visit to Hanoi, Vietnam to strengthen the U.S.-Vietnamese relationship.
– While there, Biden made several direct and repeated comments related to China, emphasizing Washington’s desire for regional stability and not containing China. “I think we think too much in terms of [the] Cold War…it’s not about that. It’s about generating economic growth and stability,” he clarified to reporters.
– House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, during a visit to Tokyo on September 7, proclaimed that China’s position on the release of treated radioactive water from a Japanese nuclear power plant is “unfair” and “false.”
– China’s international department head Liu Jianchao met with Vietnamese officials to solidify their relationship before Biden’s visit to Vietnam.
– From September 2-7, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) held their 43rd summit in Jakarta, Indonesia. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris attended, as did Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
Associated News References:
“US expects Blinken will host China’s top diplomat Wang Yi before year-end,” Reuters, September 12
“US denies Cold War with China in historic Vietnam visit,” BBC News, September 11
“Biden Seeks Stronger Vietnam Ties in Bid to Counter China,” The Wall Street Journal, September 10 [Paywall]
“US’s McCarthy says China’s stance on Fukushima discharge ‘unfair, ‘false’,” Reuters, September 7 [Paywall]
“China boosts ‘political trust’ with Vietnam ahead of Biden visit,” Reuters, September 6
“ASEAN summit begins as China’s new territorial map fuels tensions,” Nikkei Asia, September 5 [Paywall]
– According to direct sources, purchases of $50 million or more will now need approval from the People’s Bank of China in order to proceed, as China’s central bank is tightening security on large purchases at a time when the Chinese currency is depreciating rapidly.
– Various CEOs rush to meet with U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo following her visit to Beijing. Reportedly, Raimondo may brief the Business Roundtable gathering.
– Forecast for China’s economy appears gloomy as Bloomberg Economics reports it may take until the mid 2040’s for China’s GDP to overtake America’s.
– U.S. tariffs and export controls are to blame for the drop in trade between China and America, according to Chinese Ambassador to the U.S. Xie Feng. “This is a direct consequence of U.S. moves to levy Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports, abuse unilateral sanctions and further tighten up export controls,” Xie said.
– Raimondo’s visit to a Boeing hangar in Shanghai has turned some to question whether Boeing could potentially be in line for Chinese purchases of aircrafts as post-pandemic recovery escalates.
Associated News References:
“Exclusive: China’s central bank to scrutinise bulk dollar purchases – sources,” Reuters, September 11
“CEOs to meet in D.C. with eyes on China,” Semafor Business. September 5
“China Slowdown Means It May Never Overtake US Economy, Forecast Shows,” Bloomberg, September 5 [Paywall]
“China says drop in trade with the U.S. is ‘a direct consequence of U.S. moves’,” CNBC, August 31
“US-China trade: market sees clouds clearing for Boeing after Raimondo visit elevates hope of an order frenzy,” South China Morning Post, August 31 [Paywall]
“China Sows Disinformation About Hawaii Fires Using New Techniques,” The New York Times, September 11 [Paywall]
“Alibaba eyes B2B expansion in the US with Las Vegas event as rivals ByteDance and PDD also grow American e-commerce,” South China Morning Post, September 8 [Paywall]
“China’s Gotion to set up a $2 billion lithium battery plant in Illinois,” Reuters, September 8
“Biden admin to China: Hands off our tech but we’ll take your tourists,” Politico, September 7
“Kerry Wants China to Contribute to Fund for Climate-Hit Nations,” Bloomberg, September 7 [Paywall]
“TikTok’s New Amazon Copycat Is Full of Cheap Chinese Goods,” Bloomberg, September 7 [Paywall]
“Caught Between China and the West, a Pacific Island Nation Ousts Its Leader,” The New York Times, September 5 [Paywall]
“Exclusive: U.S military in talks to develop port in Philippines facing Taiwan,” Reuters, August 30
Stay Tuned for Information Regarding the ICAS 2023 Annual Conference!
On October 17, 2023, ICAS will be holding its 2023 Annual Conference out of Washington, DC! This year, our expert panelists and keynote dialogue participants will focus on “Assessing Challenges and Exploring Prospects for U.S.-China Relations in 2024.”
Subscribe to our newsletters and follow us on social media to stay informed about speakers, co-hosts, full agenda and how to reserve your spot for this in-person conference.
On September 1, 2023, the Institute for China-America Studies (ICAS) Expert Voices Initiative (EVI) conducted an interview with Mr. William Vogt, an author and adjunct lecturer at Georgetown University, to discuss the current state and future potential of the “Chinese Internet.” The interview was hosted in-person at the ICAS office in Washington, D.C. by Yilun Zhang, Trade ‘n Technology (TnT) Program Manager.
To many Western observers, China’s Internet appears to be a mysterious ‘black box’ of unknowns and mixed signals. On one hand, the Internet is becoming a symbol of China’s economic growth and opening up with the country’s rapidly growing community of netizens and e-commerce businesses. Widely-used social media platforms like WeChat and Douyin (TikTok) make China one of the leading countries in this new era of information technology. On the other hand, the Internet remains rather closed off due to the Chinese government’s tightening control and censorship over online content and its recent crackdowns on Internet and technology companies. How should observers properly assess China’s Internet society? Is the Chinese Internet a land of free speech or is it more-so a tool for centralized control? This EVI aims to discuss and assess the current state of China’s Internet and provide another depiction of this often unknown territory. Additionally, this event also seeks to explore the roles of various actors in this complex dynamic environment of the Chinese Internet.
September 14, 2023
On Thursday, September 14, 2023, ICAS Executive Director and Senior Fellow Dr. Nong Hong will speak on a Stimson Center online event panel discussing cooperation between China and West Africa over sustainable fisheries.
By Amanda Jin
September 12, 2023
On September 7, 2023, the Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE) held a virtual event to discuss the short- and medium-term outlook for China’s economic growth. Titled “What’s next for China’s economy?,” the event occurred under the background of weeks, if not months, of renewed U.S. media, governmental and congressional attention to China’s domestic economic situation and challenges…
On Friday, September 8, 2023, Senior Fellow Sourabh Gupta discussed the G20 Summit and global economic development challenges on CGTN’s BizTalk.
On Wednesday, September 6, 2023, Senior Fellow Sourabh Gupta discussed the ASEAN Summit on CGTN America’s The Heat.
On Tuesday, September 5, 2023, Senior Fellow Sourabh Gupta discussed the opening of the United Nations’ 2023 General Assembly on CGTN America’s The Heat.
On Tuesday, September 5, 2023, Senior Fellow Sourabh Gupta was quoted by China Daily on US-China commercial relations as Secretary Gina Raimondo visits Beijing
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