In the singing, fake-smiling scenes of Uyghurs in reeducation camps in China, the Chinese expect the world to be swayed to believe they are happy. That’s how Chinese view it with each other—they fake-smile at each other and buy the lie because they hope other people buy into their own fake smiles. The Chinese have no idea that Westerners know when they are truly happy and truly not, being able to tell a fake smile when we see one—or two or ten thousand.
If Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang and China’s Global Times tabloid editor Hu Xijin are right—that the White House shouldn’t get “the credit” for China’s sinking economy—then China would be thankful, but they aren’t. It’s just more Chinese chicken-chest thumping. So focused on forcing the world to love them back, the Chinese Communist Party and their media puppets are unaware of how they come across to the rest of the world that actually does not need to bend to their demands.
Xi Jinping is the modern Hitler. He calmly talks of peace, claims to not want war, then rouses his sleeping anger to growl that he will use force if necessary. The concentration-brainwashing camps are set up and well-marketed. Everyday shows more unapologetic expansionism upon territories who want nothing to do with China. Symphony’s Asian Mad Scientist Theorem is proving too accurate for comfort and Hong Kong doesn’t want any part.
China might as well get used to this happening in Taiwan, though they won’t accept that the Taiwanese won’t accept Chinese rule any more than Hong Kongers. The difference is that Taiwan has missiles and a military. And, multiple times throughout half a millennium of adversity, Taiwan is only conquered by the enormous mainland when the enormous mainland is already conquered by something else. Mayor Han of Kaohsiung, the KMT-Nationalist contender in the upcoming presidential election in Taiwan, has already been defeated for the populist he is. The election isn’t over, but then again it kind of already is.
Hong Kong has drawn so much attention that Taiwan is looking into asylum avenues, the EU is voicing support for Hong Kong protesters’ demands, and Britain is looking to support not just Hong Kong, but also Taiwan. China, not having learned from the opium wars, has once again been cruel to the little kid in the Far East, oblivious to the anger awakened in his older brother in the West.
Trade & Tech
Huawei abandons mysterious plan B, placing big bet on Trump trade deal // Business Insider
Huawei CEO Ren Zhengfei: ‘Shutting Huawei out is the start of the US falling behind’ // Yahoo News
China scrambles to stem manufacturing exodus as 50 companies leave // Nikkei Asian Review
More than 50 companies reportedly pull production out of China due to trade war // CNBC
China-US trade talks reportedly slow to a standstill over Huawei // CNBC
China wants trade deal with US despite hardline stance—Clete Willems // CNBC
Signs point to the trade war dragging on as China strikes hard-line tone // CNBC
Huawei will reportedly lay off hundreds of US workers // The Verge
U.S. Tech Firms Will Pull Manufacturing From China, Not Return to U.S. // Digital Trends
China
Two killed, 12 missing after huge blast rocks China gas plant: state media // Yahoo News
Another Massive Gas Explosion Rocks China, Casualties Unknown // OilPrice.com
Hong Kong and Taiwan find solidarity against China // Quartz
China issues 17,000 smart watches to pupils to track movements // Yahoo News
Move over Trump: China’s tweeting diplomats open fresh front in propaganda fight // Yahoo News
China Knows How to Buy Off Enemies // Bloomberg
Heart-wrenching documentary…
Xinjiang: China, where are my children? // YouTube @ BBC News
Shocking inside documentary…
Inside China’s ‘thought transformation’ camps // YouTube @ BBC News
As China locks up Muslims in Xinjiang, it opens its doors to tourists // Bangkok Post
Beyond the Trade War, China’s Economy Is Struggling to Stabilize // Bloomberg
China Q2 GDP: Beijing posts economic data amid trade war with US // CNBC
Taiwan
US must stand with Taiwan amid threats: US senator // Taipei Times
Formosa Alliance enters political arena // Taipei Times
Kaohsiung mayor slammed for not inspecting flooding // Taipei Times
Hong Kongers seek political asylum // Taipei Times
Tsai says ‘Hong Kong friends’ could be given asylum on humanitarian grounds // Taiwan News
Steps toward law & order…
Taiwan finds 1,215 illegal hotels // Taiwan News
US House Foreign Affairs Committee honors Taiwan president // Taiwan News
Han wins KMT primary // Taipei Times
China holds drills in Taiwan Strait, calls for sanctions against US companies // CNN
Kaohsiung mayor Han Kuo-yu wins KMT ticket to challenge Tsai Ing-wen for Taiwan presidency // SCMP
Hong Kong
Yet again…
Hundreds of thousands take to the streets in latest Hong Kong protest // Vox
Protesters vandalise Beijing’s office in Hong Kong // YouTube @ South China Morning Post
Pro-China Hong Kong protester calls BBC reporter ‘fake news’ during broadcast // BBC News
Commentary: EU should quit meddling in China’s internal affairs // Xinhua News
PHOTO: Hong Konger being attacked before report of ‘police finger bitten off’ // instagram.com
Hong Kong protesters march in new outpouring of grievances // Taiwan News
Thousands back on Hong Kong streets to keep up pressure // Aljazeera
Korean Peninsula
Military
The Navy’s 6th Generation Fighter Could Put the F-35 in a Museum // Yahoo News