Cadence of Conflict: Asia, November 26, 2018

Taiwan held something akin to a “mid-term” election this past Saturday. The people revolted against the previous revolt. When electing the DPP two years ago, the people were fed up with the capitulation policies of Ma. Now, they are fed up with bad management of infrastructure, also an “establishment culture” surfacing in what should be the “opposition party”, among other grievances. Taiwan’s government cautioned China to wait and see how the election affects cross-strait policy before jumping to any conclusions—because they think China can’t figure that out.

China’s government and the Western press are going head to head. China held the American children of an estranged father and money laundering defendant. The New York Times made sure to plaster the picture of the young adult brother and sister at the top of the story. Exploiting children to sway outcomes just isn’t fair.

But, it didn’t stop at children. The New York Times also posted about cheap labor building Chinese AI. And, Forbes published an article with a graph that makes it look like China’s economy has bottomed out. The battle between China and its great and powerful foe—the Western press—rages on. China is at an unfair disadvantage, but presses forward fearlessly and valiantly.

US and South Korea to scale back major military exercise | AP

US carrier in Hong Kong; China in Paracels | Taipei Times

Beijing pioneering citizens’ ‘points’ system critics brand ‘Orwellian’ | Yahoo – Reuters

China’s Tactic to Catch a Fugitive Official: Hold His Two American Children | NY Times

How Cheap Labor Drives China’s A.I. Ambitions | NY Times

The Scariest Economic Chart In The World Right Now May Come From China | Forbes

2018 ELECTIONS: Lai offers to resign as DPP routed | Taipei Times

MAC urges China not to misjudge vote outcome | Taipei Times

2018 ELECTIONS: Voters cast ballots in record 10 referendums | Taipei Times

Hong Kong democrats hope to regain veto powers in crucial by-election | Yahoo – Reuters