East Asia

At the Altar of the Chair in St Peter's Basilica, Pope Francis celebrated Mass with the new cardinals created in yesterday’s consistory. “[W]hy should we be caught up with earthly concerns?” “Why should we look for ‘patrons’ to help advance our career?” “Some people seem to think that being compassionate, helping and serving others is for losers. Yet these are the only things that win us the victory”. “When the Church worships God and serves our neighbour, she does not live in the night. However weak and weary, she journeys towards the Lord.”

Commentary (in Italian) on the Gospel of the Sunday before Advent B (Mark 13:33-37).

During the consistory held at the Altar of the chair, Pope Francis placed the biretta on 13 new cardinals. Those from the Philippines and Brunei were absent due to problems related to the pandemic. All the cardinals wore masks and stood at a distance from each other. One of the new cardinals, Mario Grech, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, delivered the opening greetings.

A university student unleashed an ideological attack against a dorm attendant for showing some gratitude to students at the Harbin Institute of Technology by offering chocolates for “Thanksgiving”. The student accused her of bringing "religious activities" and a “foreign celebration" to the university. Yet in China people celebrate 1st January, Women's Day, May Day, etc. Here are some thoughts.

Bilateral trade dropped by 73 per cent in the first nine months of 2020, and drop further to 80 per cent by the end of the year. In 2018, restrictions imposed on North Korea over its nuclear programme led to a 57.4 per cent reduction in trade. The recent collapse is due to tighter North Korean border controls. Meanwhile Kim Jong-un ordered a lockdown in the capital, South Korean sources say.

China slapped tariffs of up to 212 per cent on Australian wine. Relations with Australia began to deteriorate after Canberra asked for an international investigation into the origins of COVID-19. Canberra condemns China's “pressure and coercion”. Biden and the European Union are calling for an alliance between democracies against regimes like China’s.

The country’s last 832 counties designated as "poor" have been lifted out of this condition. Apparently, the goals set by Xi Jinping have been achieved. However, for critics, the threshold used by the authorities is too low. The gap between cities and countryside is growing; two million more internal migrants are poor. Consumption is falling due to the pandemic. Prime Minister Li Keqiang also expressed doubts.

The Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life is launching a campaign to invite young people to spread the "virtual hugs" exchanged with the elderly online with the initiative "The elderly are your grandparents".

The capital’s teachers visit their students every three days. Lessons on TV or online for middle and high schools. It is not known whether these measures are also applied outside the city. Zero cases of contagion for the authorities, but the province of Chagang, on the border with China, is in full lockdown.

According to a white paper published by the Data Center for Human Rights in North Korea, religious activities in that country have been completely banned. About 46 per cent of participants in a study say that believers are punished with forced labour. North Korean also tries to find North Korean Christians who fled to China. Since 2000, only 559 people have "seen a Bible".

Tensions between the two countries will remain, but managed by prioritizing diplomacy. Competition in trade, technology and security; collaboration on climate, Covid-19 and nuclear proliferation. The Taiwan problem. Critical observers: Biden will re-propose Obama's "warmongering" policies.

In her annual government policy address, the head of the executive exalts the security law and imposes an oath for parliamentarians, judges, members of government offices, teachers. Push towards the integration of the Hong Kong economy into that of the "Great Bay". No politics in schools. No democratic reform on the horizon.