The Korean DMZ is the hottest new place to socialize! Dear Leaders charge to the border to shake hands. Presidents line up early to get a good spot. Few diplomatic maneuvers or promises on trade can compete with the political electricity and friendship found at the one border in Asia that has no military.
Trump’s visit to Kim Jong-Un on his way home paid a great honor to the leader who was not at the G20 summit. Peace in Korea means a harder sell for countries seeking something else.
Leaders at G20 smiled for the camera and acted like best friends forever, reassuring their citizens back home. But, a bridge that spans 90% of a river is neither a bridge nor a dock, it’s just an obstruction. Trade is on the table. Trump made a gesture without tread, allowing American companies to work with Huawei, as long as they don’t help Huawei in the ways Trump claims Huawei continues to threaten security. Xi smiled, but didn’t seem impressed.
Hong Kong protests have continued four weekends in a row.
If we look at the Hong Kong protests from the view of the Asian Mad Scientist Theorem, everything makes perfect sense. Experimentation with North Korea is finished and moved onto China. Now, it’s time to see what happens when attempting to impose tyranny onto an unarmed, peaceful, free-thinking, free-speaking people.
Their main reaction was to petition G20 nations the week of the G20 summit. China has declared Hong Kong to be an internal matter that will not be discussed at G20. This creates a dilemma similar to the line between an internal family matter vs the kids banging on the neighbors’ door to report domestic violence. If internal matters escalate to a certain point, then can’t not become external matters.
Grenville Cross should be investigated for unhealthy ties to Beijing. Being the director of public prosecutions starting in 1997, when Hong Kong was handed over to Beijing, and with his recent “opinion” piece, more of a political rebuke of the protestors, he is operating as Beijing’s mouthpiece and overlooked one important part of Hong Kong’s Basic Law—mainly that Beijing may never, ever, ever interfere. He should be investigated as an accomplice with a means and a now evident motive.
The Huawei FedEx package returned to Sascha Segan doesn’t seem to be a lash-out at China, but a lash-out at Trump.
Trade & Tech
Why the stock market’s surge may delay a U.S.-China trade deal [Video] // Yahoo News
China warns of long road ahead with US // Yahoo News
Huawei may get its US supply chain back after Trump’s policy ‘U-turn’ // CNN
Trump to lift some restrictions on Huawei as part of China truce // Engadget
Trump Bows to Xi Jinping’s Huawei Demands at G20 // Yahoo News
The Huawei rollercoaster continues as Google gets a green light to license Android again // PC World
Trump and Xi Jinping agree to re-start trade talks, Chinese state media reports // USA Today
China suspends Canadian beef, pork imports as tensions rise // BBC News
Scott Morrison says quick resolution of US-China trade dispute ‘unrealistic’ // Guardian
New 338cc China-Built Harley Davidson Model Coming in 2020 // Interesting Engineering
China wants ‘balanced’ trade deal at summit, but US isn’t interested // CNBC
China’s Xi to present Trump with terms for settling trade deal: WSJ // CNBC
U.S. aims to restart China trade talks, will not accept conditions on tariff use // Yahoo News
FedEx: Huawei Phone Caused ‘Panic’ // PC Magazine
Huawei Tweeted in Response to FedEx’s Rejection of P30 Pro Parcel // Pandaily
China wants FedEx to explain why Huawei package was not shipped to US // Fox Business
China
Why China Can’t Sell Its ‘One Country’ Narrative // National Interest
What is China’s ‘one country, two systems’ policy? // The Economist
Trump open to ′historic′ trade deal with China // DW
China says Trump, Xi reach trade truce // AP
China criticizes ‘negative content’ in US defense bill // NY Post
China Sets Preconditions For A U.S. Trade Deal // Forbes
Trudeau has ‘brief, constructive interactions’ with Chinese President Xi Jinping at G20 // CBA
Report: China fighters buzz Canada warship in East China Sea // Yahoo News
China will not allow Hong Kong to be brought up at G20, Beijing says // CNN
Taiwan
Swine fever toll in China may be twice official toll // Taipei Times
US Senate budget bill emphasizes Taiwan support // Taipei Times
US transit passengers spared screening // Taipei Times
Hong Kong
Live: Hong Kong protesters clash with police over China extradition bill // CNN
Sen. Ted Cruz: Trump should complain to Xi Jinping about China’s assault on Hong Kong // Fox News
‘They will definitely take revenge’: how China could respond to the Hong Kong protests // Guardian
I felt the fear of abduction by China in Hong Kong. Appeasing Bejing has to stop // Guardian
Hong Kong protesters continue to demonstrate as leader hides from public // Fox News
Beijing will not rest until it controls Hong Kong. We must keep fighting // Guardian
Hong Kong protesters urge world leaders to support them at G20 summit // CNN
Hong Kong Police, Once Called ‘Asia’s Finest,’ Are Now a Focus of Anger // NY Times
More anti-extradition protests planned in Hong Kong and Japan ahead of Osaka G20 summit // HKFP
China Warns Against Foreign Interference: Hong Kong Update // Bloomberg
Japan
Rhetoric cools as G20 begins // Taipei Times
Korean Peninsula
Trump becomes first US president to step into North Korea // youtu.be
Trump first US president in North Korea during Kim Jong Un DMZ meeting // CNBC
The Latest: Trump says ‘great honor’ to stand in North Korea // AP
Hell on earth: The horrors of North Korean torture camps // NZ Herald
Trump meets Kim Jong Un, becomes first sitting U.S. president to step into North Korea // NBC News
Live: Following G20, Trump to visit the DMZ in hopes of meeting Kim // CNN
‘It is very concerning’: PM voices his concerns about Alek Sigley // Sydney Morning Herald
Australian student in North Korea reported missing // CNN
Military
Did India Just Make China’s New Stealth Fighters Obsolete? // National Interest
Coming Soon: Russia’s Strange B-2 Looking Stealth Drone // National Interest