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China Launches Two Days of ‘Punishment’ Military Drills Around Taiwan

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The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China on Thursday launched two days of aggressive military drills around Taiwan, including flights by armed warplanes and simulated attacks on the island.

The PLA described the drills as “strong punishment for the separatist acts of Taiwan independence forces and a stern warning against the interference and provocation by external forces.”

This was presumably a reference to the inauguration on Monday of Taiwan’s new president, William Lai Ching-te. Lai succeeded two-term President Tsai Ing-wen, also a member of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and also denounced by China as a “separatist.”

Communist China attempted to intimidate the Taiwanese out of voting for Lai, and, when that failed, it howled that his largely conciliatory inaugural speech was a “confession of Taiwan independence” by a “dangerous separatist.”

In one passage from his speech, Lai advised China to “face up to the fact that the Republic of Taiwan exists.” Many observers felt this was the line that enraged Beijing. (Read more from “China Launches Two Days of ‘Punishment’ Military Drills Around Taiwan” HERE)

Democratic Congressional Hopeful Paid Thousands to Chinese Foreign Agent

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A Democrat running for Congress in California’s Silicon Valley paid a Chinese foreign agent for advertising, Federal Election Commission (FEC) records show.

Evan Low, a California assemblyman running for Congress in the state’s 16th Congressional District, paid roughly $5,000 to Sing Tao Newspapers for print advertisements in February, according to a FEC filing. The Department of Justice (DOJ) ordered Sing Tao U.S., which is Chinese-owned and distributes papers in California, to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) in 2021.

FARA requires any individual or organization engaging in political activities on behalf of a foreign entity to register with the federal government and to make periodic public reports, according to the DOJ. The law defines political activity as “any activity that the person engaging in believes will, or that the person intends to, in any way influence any agency or official of the Government of the United States or any section of the public within the United States.”

Sing Tao’s coverage in China has been characterized as pro-Chinese Communist Party (CCP), according to The New York Times. The paper published an editorial arguing that police should curb the demonstrations during 2014 anti-government protests in Hong Kong by using a “gun powder keg.”

Sources familiar with Chinese media have linked Sing Tao to the CCP, according to Radio Free Asia, a U.S.-government-funded news outlet. Radio Free Asia also found that two of the company’s directors had served on the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, which serves as an advisory body to China’s National People’s Congress.

(Read more from “Democratic Congressional Hopeful Paid Thousands to Chinese Foreign Agent” HERE)

Photo credit: Flickr

Major Report Uncovers CCP-Linked Influence Behind Left-Wing Anti-Israel Protests in U.S.

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A report reveals that key radical left-wing organizations central in the current anti-Israel and anti-America protest movement are significantly funded and influenced by a network tied to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which seeks to advance a “revolutionary, anti-government, anti-capitalist agenda,” threatening U.S. internal stability.

A major report from the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI), published Monday, details how the Shut It Down for Palestine (SID4P) movement, which has connections to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) through the Singham Network, uses protests and media campaigns to push anti-America and anti-Israel narratives and significantly contribute to social unrest.

Prominent groups within the SID4P coalition — which emerged in late 2023 — including the Answer Coalition, The People’s Forum, and the International Peoples’ Assembly, are linked through financial, personal, and ideological ties to CCP associates Neville Roy Singham and his wife, Jodie Evans, the report notes.

Singham, a former consultant for Huawei, has been involved in CCP operations and has been investigated by the U.S., Canada, and India. He is known for funneling hundreds of millions of dollars into pro-China progressive advocacy through his network. His wife, Evans, a co-founder of the radical left-wing, anti-war organization CODEPINK and board member of The People’s Forum, has been actively involved in anti-America and anti-Israel protests, it reveals.

(Read more from “Major Report Uncovers CCP-Linked Influence Behind Left-Wing Anti-Israel Protests in U.S.” HERE)

Report Exposes Continued Labor Abuses by Major Chinese Fashion Giant

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Public Eye, a Swiss-based human rights advocacy group, has issued a scathing rebuke against Chinese fashion giant Shein, alleging the company’s involvement in labor abuses despite promises of improvement.

In a follow-up report released on Sunday, Public Eye reiterated its concerns over Shein’s labor practices, stating that “illegal working hours and piecework wages remain a typical feature” for workers associated with the company. The report also highlighted suspicions surrounding Shein’s opaque finances and the disappearance of its founder from the public eye.

Shein, known for its ultra-fast fashion model offering a vast online inventory of clothing at remarkably low prices, has faced mounting scrutiny over its supply chain practices. The company’s business model relies on exploiting cheap labor and materials, including textiles potentially harvested by forced labor.

Public Eye’s investigation included interviews with textile workers employed by Shein and its suppliers in China. Despite Shein’s code of conduct limiting work hours to 60 per week, workers reported enduring grueling 75-hour work weeks, often with inadequate compensation.

“I work every day from 8:00 in the morning to 10:30 at night and take one day off each month. I can’t afford any more days off because it costs too much,” shared one worker interviewed by Public Eye.

Wages for textile workers were reported to be modest, ranging from 6,000 to 10,000 yuan per month (approximately $830 to $1,380 USD). The report also highlighted instances of undocumented and unpaid work, with workers coerced into correcting mistakes on their own time under threat of fines.

Furthermore, Public Eye raised concerns about safety standards in Shein factories, noting a prevalence of smoking in environments filled with flammable textiles and chemicals. There were also indications of potential child labor practices.

Despite Shein’s efforts to address criticism, including commissioning an audit on supplier factory wages, Public Eye dismissed these measures as inadequate and criticized the audit for downplaying the severity of labor abuses.

Photo credit: Flickr

Report: Email Unveils Attempt to Introduce Chinese Company, Deemed National Security ‘Risk,’ to U.S.

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In a recent revelation, it has been uncovered that an economic development corporation in Ohio actively engaged with a Chinese-owned company flagged as a potential national security risk by U.S. authorities. According to communications reviewed by the Daily Caller News Foundation, JobsOhio, a private economic development corporation funded by the JobsOhio Beverage System, collaborated with Fufeng USA, a subsidiary of China-based Fufeng Group, to explore the establishment of a facility in the state.

The correspondence indicates that Matthew Davis, representing “RGP Northwest Ohio/JobsOhio,” initiated discussions with officials from Paulding County regarding the potential siting of Fufeng USA’s facility in or near Defiance, Ohio, in May 2023. Despite warnings from the U.S. Air Force about Fufeng USA’s operations posing a significant national security threat, JobsOhio proceeded with discussions.

Fufeng USA, specializing in bio-fermentation for livestock feed supplements, has ties to the Chinese Communist Party through its parent company, Fufeng Group. This connection, coupled with Fufeng USA’s plans to establish a plant in North Dakota, drew concerns from U.S. authorities. The U.S. Air Force expressed apprehension, citing both immediate and long-term risks to national security due to the plant’s proximity to sensitive military installations.

Moreover, Fufeng Group’s founder and chairman, Li Xuechun, has a political background within the Chinese Communist Party, having served on committees and received accolades from government entities. Li’s association with the CCP raises further questions about the company’s intentions and potential influence.

While JobsOhio and its partner organizations engaged in preliminary discussions with Fufeng USA, they eventually decided not to pursue the opportunity further.

CIA Preparing for ‘Infinite Race’ on Tech, AI in Face of China Challenge

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The CIA is preparing for an “infinite race” with China for artificial intelligence and top technology, making getting the best tools a leading priority for America’s spies.

CIA Director William J. Burns has made a giant pivot toward making technology a major intelligence objective, said Nand Mulchandani, the agency’s chief technology officer.

In remarks to the Hill & Valley Forum’s gathering of top technology and government officials in Washington this week, Mr. Mulchandani said the CIA is “all in” on AI for offense, defense and more. He said the CIA is building its own large language models, which are sophisticated algorithms that make generative AI tools work.

“We’re looking at transforming every single part of what the agency does, from operations to the analytic function, support functions and other pieces there,” Mr. Mulchandani said. “We don’t think there’s anything more important than this.”

Mr. Mulchandani said the spy agency is working to outcompete China while “fighting across every single one of these emerging tech areas,” which he identified as AI, biotechnology, space technology, quantum technology and telecommunications. (Read more from “CIA Preparing for ‘Infinite Race’ on Tech, AI in Face of China Challenge” HERE)

Report: White House Considers Inviting Gaza Palestinians as Refugees

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The White House has reportedly been considering whether or not to accept Palestinians from Gaza as refugees amid Israel’s war with Hamas.

According to internal federal documents obtained by CBS News, senior officials in the Biden administration and U.S. agencies have “discussed the practicality of different options to resettle Palestinians from Gaza who have immediate family members who are American citizens or permanent residents.”

The documents show that welcoming Palestinians under the United States Refugee Admissions Program has been proposed as a means to bring people into the country from war-torn Gaza. CBS News added:

Top U.S. officials have also discussed getting additional Palestinians out of Gaza and processing them as refugees if they have American relatives, the documents show. The plans would require coordination with Egypt, which has so far refused to welcome large numbers of people from Gaza.

Potential refugees would need to pass various security and medical screenings before they could be granted access to the United States and the numerous benefits associated with refugee resettlement in the country, including permanent residency, housing assistance, and a pathway to American citizenship. (Read more from “Report: White House Considers Inviting Gaza Palestinians as Refugees” HERE)

China Hosts ‘Unity’ Talks Between Palestinian Fatah and Hamas Terrorists

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Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Tuesday that representatives from the two main Palestinian factions, the terrorist organization Hamas and Fatah, made progress at recent “unity talks” held in Beijing.

Lin said Hamas and Fatah sent representatives to Beijing at China’s invitation for “in-depth and candid dialogue on promoting Palestinian reconciliation.”

“The two sides fully expressed their political will of realizing reconciliation through dialogue and consultation, had discussions on many specific issues, and made encouraging progress,” he said.

No announcements have been made and the talks were held without much fanfare. Lin did not indicate exactly when this “dialogue” occurred and the question that allowed him to broach the subject was clearly planted with Chinese state media, so Lin’s press conference on Tuesday looked like the Chinese Communist regime trying to squeeze a little good press out of meetings that did not accomplish much.

Lin said the Palestinian factions “agreed to continue this dialogue process so as to achieve Palestinian solidarity and unity at an early date.” (Read more from “China Hosts ‘Unity’ Talks Between Palestinian Fatah and Hamas Terrorists” HERE)

USDA Bird Flu Research in China Sparks Congressional Concern

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Research on highly pathogenic strains of bird flu conducted by the Department of Agriculture in affiliation with Chinese Communist Party scientific researchers is drawing renewed scrutiny from representatives in Congress following the growing outbreak of bird flu in dairy cows this month.

A bipartisan group of representatives in the House began probing the USDA this month regarding two collaborative research projects with the Chinese Academy of Sciences conducting potentially dangerous research on several strains of avian influenza that are genetically similar to the H5N1 strain currently circulating in the United States.

This heightened scrutiny comes as outside observers of the bird flu outbreak note that the situation is eerily similar to the secrecy of January and February 2020 before the official beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA) joined a group of 20 legislators in sending a letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilkas on April 12, saying they were “disturbed” that U.S. taxpayer funds were being allocated for research that “could potentially generate dangerous new lab-created virus strains that threaten our national security and public health.”

Griffith told the Washington Examiner this week that he is highly concerned about the USDA’s research, considering the history of biosecurity failures in U.S.-funded virus research in China. (Read more from “USDA Bird Flu Research in China Sparks Congressional Concern” HERE)

Wray Warns China Getting Positioned to Attack American Infrastructure’

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The chief of the FBI is warning that China already has “burrowed” into critical infrastructure in the United States and now is just waiting for “the right moment to deal a devastating blow.”

The FBI’s Christopher Wray said in a Reuters report that an ongoing hacking campaign, known already as Volt Typhoon, has gained access to American telecommunications, energy, water and other companies, including pipeline operators.

Wray charged China is assembling the “ability to physically wreak havoc on our critical infrastructure at a time of its choosing. … Its plan is to land low blows against civilian infrastructure to try to induce panic.”

The report explained, “Wray said it was difficult to determine the intent of this cyber pre-positioning which was aligned with China’s broader intent to deter the U.S. from defending Taiwan.”

That is a fast-developing conflict that has the potential to draw the United States into a fight on the other side of the globe. China claims it owns Taiwan, while Taiwan says its own people will decide their future. (Read more from “Wray Warns China Getting Positioned to Attack American Infrastructure’” HERE)