China: Daily Scan, June 17, 2022

At least 14 provincial officials under investigation since August amid grain anti-corruption campaign: Global Times

June 16, 2022

At least 14 provincial officials have been investigated since August last year, as China has been focusing on anti-corruption in the field of grain purchases and sales. As the largest province of grain production in China, Northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province is the "ballast stone" of national grain security. Heilongjiang has investigated six provincial cadres, including two former heads of provincial grain industry since 2021. Click here to read... [2]

China steps up fixed-asset investment to steady COVID-hit economy: Reuters

June 16, 2022

China's state planner said on Thursday it had approved 10 fixed-asset investments worth 121 billion yuan ($18.1 billion) in May, a more than six-fold jump from April, as policymakers seek to get economic growth back on track after a COVID-induced slump. Click here to read... [3]

Western-style democracy behind wars, chaos and human misery, Chinese president tells top officials: South China Morning Post

June 16, 2022

The West’s promotion of democracy has caused wars, chaos and human displacement around the world, President Xi Jinping told top Chinese officials earlier this year. Addressing a Politburo study session in February, Xi said some Western nations “forcibly promote the concept and system of Western democracy and human rights … taking advantage of human rights issues to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries”, according to a readout of his speech made public this week. Xi did not name any countries, but Beijing has in recent months pulled no punches in blaming the US over the Ukraine war and the challenges posed by the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. The civil war in Syria and security issues in Iraq also regularly feature among China’s talking points in this context. Click here to read... [4]

Who can fill the shoes of China’s Iron Lady Sun Chunlan on Politburo: South China Morning Post

June 17, 2022

China has groomed many female athletes to bring home Olympics gold and trained women astronauts for its ambitious space programme, but without a similar political pathway, the ruling Communist Party may struggle to find a woman who can fill the shoes of Sun Chunlan. For the past two years, she has spearheaded China’s fight against the coronavirus pandemic, starting in Wuhan where the world’s first battle against the virus was fought. Click here to read... [5]

Chinese mainland reports 23 new local confirmed COVID-19 cases: Xinhuanet

June 17, 2022

The Chinese mainland on Thursday reported 23 locally-transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 11 in Beijing, six in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and four in Liaoning, the National Health Commission said Friday. Click here to read... [6]

Government to provide more jobs: China Daily

June 17, 2022

In the face of challenging job prospects caused by a variety of factors, the central government has prioritized the employment of young people, mainly new college graduates, with measures to create opportunities at all levels and tap into previously less noticed sectors and areas. Click here to read... [7]

Eight hurt, six missing in sewage room blast: China Daily

June 17, 2022

A sewage control room of a chemical technology firm in Lanzhou city of Northwest China was rocked by an explosion on Thursday evening, leaving at least eight injured and six missing, according to the CGTN. Click here to read... [8]

Coal's dominance a challenge for transition: China Daily

June 17, 2022

A special policy study from a high-level international think tank for the Chinese government has highlighted the challenges posed to the country's low-carbon transition due to its coal-dominated energy structure, saying that hasty decommissioning of coal-fired power will jeopardize energy security and may result in financial risks. Click here to read... [9]

University teacher removed from post for insulting remarks about women: Global Times

June 17, 2022

A university teacher who made inappropriate comments has been suspended from teaching, East China's Shandong University of Political Science and Law said in a statement on Thursday. The decision came after the teacher sparked a huge outcry on the Chinese internet for making insulting remarks about women. Click here to read... [10]

Russia, China seek new growth momentum at key economic forum amid US hegemony: Global Times

June 17, 2022

With the 25th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), hailed as the "Russian Davos", beginning on Wednesday, Russia-China cooperation under the theme "New opportunities in a new world" came under the spotlight, as the Kremlin's interests appeared to shift toward the East in the face of mounting Western sanctions and pressureClick here to read... [11]

Livestreamer fined $16m over tax evasion as China continues to clamp down on livestreaming tax violations: Global Times

June 17, 2022

Fiscal authorities in Fuzhou, East China's Jiangxi Province imposed a fine of 108 million yuan ($16 million) to a livestreamer over tax evasion as the country continues to clamp down on livestreaming tax violations. Click here to read... [12]

Bachelet admits her China trip faced limitations: Taipei Times

June 17, 2022

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Wednesday said she was unable to visit detained Uighurs and that she was accompanied by authorities while visiting Xinjiang, remarks that raise questions about the Chinese government’s efforts to influence her trip. “I was not able to speak to any Uighurs currently detained or their families during the visit,” Bachelet told a meeting of the Human Rights Council, adding that the visit to China faced “limitations, especially given the prevailing COVID restrictions.” Click here to read... [13]

China, Russia give differing accounts of Xi-Putin call: Taipei Times

June 17, 2022

Moscow and Beijing gave alternative accounts of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) birthday call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as both sides seek to manage perceptions of their relationship in the wake of Russia’s war in Ukraine. The Kremlin readout on Wednesday said the two men, both 69, discussed increasing economic cooperation, trade and military-technical ties between China and Russia. Click here to read... [14]