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Talking to Biden, Preparing for War — U.S. Panel Sees Xi Bracing China for Conflict to Come

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Chinese President Xi Jinping is preparing his military forces for war and directing the rest of the country to prepare for economic hardships that conflict would bring, according to the latest annual report from a congressional commission on China.

The Chinese leader, who also heads the ruling Communist Party and is scheduled to have his first face-to-face meeting in a year with President Biden on Wednesday, has called on government officials and the population to prepare for “worst-case” and “extreme” scenarios as a result of heightened tensions with the United States and its allies in the region.

The 753-page report to Congress by the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission includes an alarming list of indicators that Beijing is preparing for war with the United States.

“Throughout 2023, China accelerated its political, military, economic and information pressure against Taiwan, raising further concerns of potential military action,” Commission co-Chair Carolyn Bartholomew said in releasing the report from the influential advisory body.

On the eve of the meeting with Mr. Biden, the panel said Washington had little to show for a flurry of meetings between senior leaders in recent months trying to moderate Beijing’s policies. (Read more from “Talking to Biden, Preparing for War — U.S. Panel Sees Xi Bracing China for Conflict to Come” HERE)

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Congressional Report Highlights China’s Evasion of Biden’s Semiconductor Sanctions, Gaining Access to Advanced Technology

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President Joe Biden’s semiconductor sanctions are not sufficiently preventing China from gaining access to the advanced technology, a Tuesday congressional report asserts.

Chinese firms have been procuring American chip manufacturing machinery to produce cutting-edge semiconductors, which are used in artificial intelligence (AI), according to the report by the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. Biden administration sanctions have aimed at impeding China’s progress in the semiconductor sector, but it has successfully found ways to circumvent them through dubious claims, self-reliance and other countries.

Chinese “importers are often able to purchase the equipment if they claim it is being used on an older production line, and with limited capacity for end-use inspections it is difficult to verify the equipment is not being used to produce more advanced chips,” the report found.

Biden’s 2022 CHIPS and Science Act is designed to advance America’s semiconductor industry while also taking on China, according to a White House fact sheet. The funds provided in the act prohibit constructing certain factories in China. (Read more from “Congressional Report Highlights China’s Evasion of Biden’s Semiconductor Sanctions, Gaining Access to Advanced Technology” HERE)

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Philippines Drops China’s Belt and Road as Tensions Flare

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The Philippines in late October became the latest country to back out of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), with Transport Minister Jaime Bautista telling reporters the sudden withdrawal came after Beijing did not respond to funding requests on railway projects.

China had pledged almost $5 billion (€4.7 billion) to build three rail lines — two in Luzon and one in Mindanao — under the BRI, a keystone of Beijing’s foreign policy offering Chinese-backed loans for major infrastructure projects mostly in developing parts of the world.

However, China and the Philippines have been locked in a years-long dispute over maritime territory in the South China Sea, which China has claimed in its entirety.

In the most recent incident, a Chinese coast guard ship rammed a Philippine fishing vessel in contested waters near Second Thomas Shoal.

However, Philippine officials did not mention territorial tension as the reason behind the pull out. (Read more from “Philippines Drops China’s Belt and Road as Tensions Flare” HERE)

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Joe Biden’s Office Allegedly Helped Coordinate Hunter Biden’s China Trips During Vice Presidency, Emails Show

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Then-Vice President Joe Biden’s office appeared to offer assistance to Hunter Biden with coordinating his business trips to China, newly released emails show.

Donald Cloud, an advisor to then-VP Biden, reached out to Hunter Biden’s assistant, Katie Dodge, and suggested she communicate with the U.S. Embassy in Beijing to connect with then-U.S. Ambassador to China Max Baucus about Hunter Biden’s travels to China, according to emails released on Oct. 26 by the America First Legal Foundation (AFL).

“The reason I’m emailing you is that I received a call from Embassy Beijing this morning, and as I understand it, they (specifically Ambassador Max Baucus) has heard that Hunter Biden is in China. He would like to connect with Hunter (either himself or a member of his Embassy staff) to offer any support he may need during his travels,” Cloud wrote, according to the emails.

Cloud apparently sent Dodge contact information for Baucus’ special assistant and his personal phone number. Baucus’ phone number is redacted in the batch of emails AFL released. Dodge reached out to Baucus’ assistant and suggested a meeting with Baucus the next time Hunter Biden was in China because Baucus was not in China at the time, according to the emails. (Read more from “Joe Biden’s Office Allegedly Helped Coordinate Hunter Biden’s China Trips During Vice Presidency, Emails Show” HERE)

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China Wipes Israel From Digital Map

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Chinese companies Baidu and Alibaba removed the name of the state of Israel from their digital maps Tuesday, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported.

Although Baidu’s map demarcates the internationally recognized borders of Israel, including key cities and the Palestinian territories, Israel is not listed by name, the outlet reported. Alibaba’s map identifies less recognizable countries like Luxembourg while excluding a label for Israel.

While social media users recently noticed the absence of Israel on Chinese maps, it is unknown whether this is a new development, according to the outlet. However, China has been diplomatically ambiguous in the region amid Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks against Israel. . .

China’s foreign ministry responded to a question from a Reuters reporter during a press conference Tuesday inquiring whether they played a part in removing the label of Israel from the companies’ maps.

“I believe you are aware that China and Israel have a normal diplomatic relationship,” ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said. “The relevant country is clearly marked on the standard maps issued by the Chinese competent authorities, which you may refer to,” Wenbin said. (Read more from “China Wipes Israel From Digital Map” HERE)

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Chinese Generals Rattle Sabers at U.S. On War Over Taiwan

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Chinese generals took aim at the U.S. military on Monday with blunt warnings that foreign forces in a war to take Taiwan will be crushed, but they also held out the prospect of ending a lengthy boycott on direct military-to-military talks with the Pentagon.

People’s Liberation Army Gen. Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, said Monday in Beijing that the PLA will “show no mercy” in dealing with attempts by the U.S. or Taiwanese forces to seek independence from the mainland.

“No matter who wishes to separate Taiwan from China in any way, the Chinese military will never agree to it,” Gen. Zhang said. In a veiled reference to the United States, he said “some countries” are working to subvert the Chinese system.

Gen. Zhang also hinted that the PLA might end its 15-month refusal to engage in talks and exchanges with the U.S. military. The boycott was sparked by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s high-profile visit to Taiwan in the summer of 2022.

A second PLA general, Lt. Gen. He Lei, told state media at the conference that a PLA war on Taiwan would be “legitimate” and “just.” (Read more from “Chinese Generals Rattle Sabers at U.S. On War Over Taiwan” HERE)

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WATCH: Gavin Newsom Knocks Down Small Child While Playing Basketball in China

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) had a particularly awkward moment during his trip to China, wherein he was filmed knocking over a young child during a game of basketball.

The moment occurred during a visit to a school in Beijing last Friday. After Newsom fell to the ground with the boy, the governor laughed it off as he patted him on the back several times. The boy seemed largely unfazed, with no injuries. Prior to the fall, Newsom tried for a few photo-op moments by spinning the ball on his finger and driving to the basket for a layup. Needless to say, the moment inspired heavy commentary on social media:

“It was a cringey moment for the Democratic governor but didn’t cause injuries. Newsom, in dress shoes, a white shirt, and slacks, proceeded to play with the 9- and 10-year-old children for several more minutes, spinning the basketball on his fingertip and swishing a few times,” noted the Los Angeles Times. (Read more from “WATCH: Gavin Newsom Knocks Down Small Child While Playing Basketball in China” HERE)

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Biden’s New ‘Rule’ Would Force Government Thought on Millions

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China is well known for dictating what people think. Or at least what they say they think. A statement of a wrong belief can bring on trouble quickly.

Now Joe Biden’s administration is preparing to take a major step in the same direction, with a plan by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to dictate how transgenderism and abortion are addressed in the workplace.

Through its rule-making process, the EEOC is preparing to identify the simple “voicing of opposition to abortion or contraception as policy matters” as “workplace harassment.” . . .

A report in Decision Magazine explains how Biden’s strategy is to force all workplaces to become “woke,” or adopt the leftist social ideologies that Biden’s administration chooses to endorse.

The report explains that conservative and faith-based groups are alarmed at the prospect Biden’s plans will violate their free speech rights, and offend their business management plans. (Read more from “Biden’s New ‘Rule’ Would Force Government Thought on Millions” HERE)

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Deep State Preps Gavin Newsom for Presidency, Has Him Meet With Xi in China

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday in Beijing, in the latest sign of thawing U.S-China relations amid rising geopolitical conflicts.

The Democratic governor has been in China this week on a visit billed as focused on climate change, in line with California’s nation-leading emissions policies. He said his meeting with Xi focused on climate as well as fentanyl exports, which the Biden administration has been trying to curb through sanctions on Chinese chemical companies. . .

“The president was rather explicit about the desire to be even more specific in terms of what is needed, in terms of calling out and identifying where these chemicals are going,” Newsom told reporters after the meeting.

Newsom’s emphasis on climate change and subnational cooperation as avenues for diplomacy between the U.S. and China may have paid off. The trip should pave the way for a meeting between President Joe Biden and Xi Jinping at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in San Francisco next month in Newsom’s hometown. (Read more from “Deep State Preps Gavin Newsom for Presidency, Has Him Meet With Xi in China” HERE)

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China Expanding Nuclear Arsenal Faster Than Expected: Pentagon

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China is expanding its nuclear arsenal unexpectedly quickly while it continues to threaten Taiwan, warned a new Pentagon report on Thursday.

China has built up its nuclear arsenal to over 500 warheads, an increase of roughly 100 over the past year and more than U.S. security officials had predicted a year ago, according to the Defense Department’s annual China Military Power Report. The Department of Defense (DOD) estimates that China’s nuclear stockpile will double to roughly 1,000 warheads by 2030.

“In 2022, Beijing continued its rapid nuclear expansion, and DoD estimates that the PRC possessed more than 500 operational nuclear warheads as of May 2023 — on track to exceed previous projections,” the report says.

China’s stockpile of nuclear warheads is “on track to exceed previous projections,” a senior DOD official told POLITICO. “What they’re doing now, if you compare it to what they were doing about a decade ago, it really far exceeds that in terms of scale and complexity.” (Read more from “China Expanding Nuclear Arsenal Faster Than Expected: Pentagon” HERE)

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