Wang Zhicheng

The experiment to make two little girls immune to HIV has not been confirmed. Over 120 scientists condemn the attempt by scientist He Jiankui. Even the university in Shenzhen distances itself from the experiment. The People's Daily first reported the news, then removed it. China and the US are competing in biotechnology research.

In a rare move, China bows to strong pressures from local and foreign environmentalists. Only 30 tigers are left in the wild in China.

Economist Sheng Hong, and his colleague, Jiang Hao, were stopped at the airport. Another colleague, Zhang Shuguang, was denied an exit visa. They were supposed to go to Harvard for a symposium marking 40 years since Deng Xiaoping’s economic reforms. All three belong to the Unirule institute of Economy, a liberal think tank.

China’s vice president also visited the Church of the Nativity church in Bethlehem. Social media users note that Party members are not allowed to profess a religion or participate in religious services. Wang’s gesture contradicts ongoing persecution (with churches and crosses destroyed). The number of Chinese tourists in Israel is growing, including Christian pilgrims. In the People's Republic of China, 85 per cent of the population believes in some form of religion or spirituality.

Zheng Xiaosong’s suicide is one more “abnormal death” caused by "depression". For the Institute of Psychology of the Academy of Sciences, half of all cadres suffer from this condition. Some 243 deaths by suicide were recorded between 2009 and 2016.

Chinese government aid leads to overproduction and sales at lower than market prices, i.e. dumping, which undermines competition. The B20 (G20 business leaders) calls for same level playing field for both state-owned and private enterprises. If China followed the rules of a market economy, it would destroy itself in a few months.

People can now be ideologically “re-educated” against "religious extremism" through psychological pressure and torture. At least one million Uyghurs are held in "vocational training centres".

In 2017, Chinese investments in the US fell by 62.1 per cent. Beijing is worried about excessive capital outflow and rising corporate debt. The trade war with the US is an added factor. Investment in Europe is growing, but like in the US, European regulators are tightening controls in key sectors.

Card Pietro Parolin also appears to have distanced himself from any imminent agreement on episcopal appointments. Mgr Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo, Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, praises China, calling it an influential power that respects human dignity and the planet. For him, the critics of the Sino-Vatican agreement are "a little minority", loud “but there are not very many of them.”

The domestic church, not recognized by the government, had a 5-year lease, which was discontinued. With the new regulations on religious activities, those who offer a meeting place for unregistered religious activities risk expropriation. Six other minor community centers closed. In addition to Beijing, communities in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Lanzhou, Xuzhou and other cities suppressed. "A new tool to suppress the churches?".

At the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, Xi pledges US$60 billion in aid, loans, development support and African exports. Beijing has become the continent’s largest trading partner. Many fear greater debt and the impact of Chinese exports on local industry.

It would signal the end of "one child" or "two children". The concerns of the leadership: shrinking workforce, rise in social expenditure for pensions and health due to the aging of the population. Change in the constitution too. However, many families think that having children is "too expensive".