NBC reported news of recent months to counter news of recent weeks. It wouldn’t be the first time NBC had a precarious definition of “news”. Intelligence reports about very specific details of possible uranium production were broken as “news” by NBC. Bloomberg and others reported that NBC reported it. Taipei Times reported that Bloomberg reported that NBC reported it. NBC breaking this “older” news made more news than the outdated “news” itself. The whole claim smells smelly. It’s likely a ruse, but we’ll need about two weeks to know with confidence.
Hong Kongers like to protest so often that they are expected to protest annually. This year, protesters claimed a 50k head turnout; Hong Kong police estimated less than 10k, which would be a record low. Surely neither crowd estimate had any bias or motive to distort the numbers.
Remember, Hong Kong students like to protest more than is deserved. China could do better with counter-PR, but not much can be done when dealing with spoiled students. Don’t be roused into hating China by the dwindling spoiled Hong Kongers. Protests are profitable in Hong Kong because they help sell newspapers in a market saturated with so many newspapers that they throw them at pedestrians on the sidewalks. Hong Kong’s biggest problem is complacent Christians.
A more genuine problem of concern is the attention Chinese manufacturers are drawing from Western press coverage of Taiwan court rulings. Taiwan makes about 60% of the world’s computer components. China wants in on the game and people are being prosecuted in Taiwan for stealing company secrets that would go to China. The biggest element of a case is in place: motive.
Most of the so-called “news” about trade wars are the most obvious. Companies are having problems with trade during a trade war. Really? This is considered news these days. Either that, or it is an obvious attempt to skirt the deeper issues behind the China-US trade war for global economy hopefuls hoping to sway public sentiment by reporting what was all foreseeable.
North Korea Ado
North Korea has increased nuclear fuel production at secret sites, US officials say | Independent
North Korea has increased nuclear production at secret sites, say U.S. officials | NBC News
North Korea Steps Up Production of Uranium Fuel, NBC Reports | Bloomberg
North Korea steps up production of uranium fuel: NBC | Taipei Times – Bloomberg
US Intel Officials Allege North Korea Is Still Enriching Uranium After Trump-Kim Summit | Gizmodo
China v Taiwan
Taiwan’s Technology Secrets Come Under Assault From China | WSJ
PRC bullying now ‘hysterical’: ministry | Taipei Times
Nation’s first full Apache brigade to enter service | Taipei Times
China v Trump
Growth in China manufacturing falls | Business Live
Trade War Winner Is Who Loses Least as U.S.-China Tariffs Loom | Bloomberg
Trade War Is Giving BMW, Ford and Tesla a Whiplash in China | Bloomberg
China v Hong Kong v Hong Kong
Hong Kong gears up for annual protest as leader marks first year in office | Channel News Asia