East Asia

Four articles in Ta Kung Pao slam the cardinal for the 2019 protest movement and the pro-democracy movement, which was recently muzzled by the authorities under the security law. The move could herald a crackdown against religious activities in Hong Kong with Catholic and Protestant schools as the first targets.

A survey conducted by the Japanese government reveals a growing shortage of teachers and professors in primary and secondary schools. The last competition to be held recorded the lowest ever ratio of candidates to available posts. A crack in a school system renowned for its efficiency.

In five years’ time the People's Liberation Army will be 100 years in operation. Prominent academic Jin Canrong: Beijing can take the island in a week, and the US can't avoid it. Pentagon prepares response with mobilising of troops and military machinery in the region. Nationalist professor reprimands Japan.

Iraq would be the first beneficiary of Chinese investments for 2021 under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Nine billion euros have been earmarked for infrastructure projects. According to Chinese data, Iraq is the third most important Belt and Road partner after Pakistan and Russia. However, some sources deny the Chinese figures. In Iraqi Kurdistan, university students are attracted by the study of the Chinese language.

The new battery maker became the country’s second most valuable company by market value, attracting bids worth US$ 10.8 billion. This marks the comeback of South Korean conglomerates, in this case helped by the competition with China’s CATL.

A report published by Peking University notes that the United States is still ahead in artificial intelligence, information technology and the aerospace technology. Decoupling brings disadvantages to both sides, but more to China. So far, Xi Jinping has not responded to the US boycott of Chinese hi-tech giants.

Some have been waiting to be tried for more than a year. PIME missionary Fr Mella urges Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam, a Catholic, to put pressure on the central government. He hopes Pope Francis will sign a petition presented to local authorities.

In his first interview, to the PIME magazine “Mondo e Missione”, Mgr Stephen Chow Sau-yan talks about the challenges of his ministry in a city struggling with Beijing’s increasingly harsh crackdown. “We are here as prophets, but with the humility of dialogue,” he says. “Our main task is to protect students.” Yet, “Culture can be subversive.”

The Sri Lankan government banned a shipment from China. Driven by the need for Chinese help to cope with its economic crisis, Sri Lankan authorities had agreed to pay for the supply, but the Chinese company claims Sri Lanka violated the terms of the agreement.

In the Ukraine battleground, the great Asian empire wins again. No one has ever equalled it, neither the British with their Commonwealth, nor the Americans who tried to “export democracy” last century. However, a break with the West would leave Russia all alone vis-à-vis China. And the two Asian empires will have to show their cards.

The other news of the day: Japan’s request to have a mine listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site sparks a row with South Korea. Lebanon refuses to hand over Hezbollah's weapons. India allocates US$ 40 billion for food security. In Russia the crackdown against the Memorial civil rights group continues. Clashes break out at the Tajik-Kyrgyz border.

After signing contracts worth more than a billion dollars with the International Olympic Committee, sponsors are under pressure over China’s human rights violations, caught between a loss of international standing and access to the Chinese market. In general, they prefer not to irritate Beijing.