#1 CHINA AND JAPAN EYE RAPPROCHEMENT ON EVE OF TRUMP’S 2ND TERM
#2 CHINA “SPY” FIGHTS BACK IN KANSAS USA
#3 THE HUSBAND, THE WIFE AND THE OTHER WOMAN
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#1 CHINA AND JAPAN EYE RAPPROCHMENT ON EVE OF TRUMP’S 2ND TERM
NIKKEI ASIA
“A gathering of senior officials from Japan’s and China’s ruling parties convened for the first time in six years here Tuesday, as incoming U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade pressure threatens to cause headaches for both sides.
The Japan-China Ruling Party Exchange Council brought members of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party and coalition partner Komeito together with Communist Party officials.
The Japanese delegation is scheduled to meet with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Wednesday, and will pass on a personal letter to Xi Jinping, China’s president and party leader, from Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
As tensions between the U.S. and China hurt trade and investment, Beijing hopes to improve ties with Japan to help fill the gap.
“We should strengthen dialogue between the ruling parties and manage our differences appropriately,” said Liu Jianchao, head of the Communist Party’s International Department, who attended the meeting.
LDP Secretary-General Hiroshi Moriyama called for China to lift restrictions on imports of Japanese fishery products and beef.
The group also met with Foreign Minister Wang Yi, United Front Work Department head Shi Taifeng, and Communist Party No. 4 Wang Huning, chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and a longtime policy adviser for Chinese leaders.
This trips marks the first time since the council was established in 2006 that a Japanese ruling-party delegation will meet with five members of China’s 24-member Politburo, including two members the elite Politburo Standing Committee, according to a member of the delegation.
GRAHAM PERRY COMMENTS;-
The story so far; the US is trying to build an anti-China Alliance. Its narrative is that China is the Bad Boy of world affairs and must be isolated. This is the reason why we are hearing so much about “De-Risking” and “De-Coupling”. China needs to be brought to heal. It must be weakened. Its progress must be arrested. The Anti-China Alliance needs to be on the front foot to make the world safe from a China-led takeover of the “Free World”. This is the US dialogue.
The language is familiar. It underlines the growing struggle between the Established Power – the US – and the Rising Power – China. And it is within this context that diplomatic moves and initiatives are best understood. Just as the US tries to solidify its hoped-for anti-China alliance so China responds by developing closer links with countries hitherto regarded as solid US allies.
The US seeks to consolidate and China, in response, seeks to fragment. Countries do not want to go out of their way to irritate the US but they do not want to lose the opportunity to build closer trade and commercial links with China. In modern language – China knows how to be “sexy” and it frustrates constant US efforts – Quad, Aukus, SEATO – to create an anti-China alliance. In the same frame, hence references to a rapprochement between China and Japan.
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#2 CHINESE “SPY” FIGHTS BACK AT KANSAS UNIVERSITY IN THE US.
USA TODAY
“A former University of Kansas professor is suing after being falsely accused and fired for being a “Chinese spy.”
Former chemistry professor Feng Tao was investigated for economic espionage in 2019 under a President Donald Trump-era national security program called the “China Initiative.” The Department of Justice raided Tao’s lab.
Who is former KU professor Feng Tao?
Tao is a researcher and academic in the field of chemistry and chemical engineering, according to court documents. He was born in China and came to the United States to earn a doctorate in chemistry at Princeton University in 2002, the lawsuit said. Tao went on to do his postdoctoral research at the University of California at Berkeley between 2006-2010.
Before the lab raid, Tao did research on sustainable technology to conserve natural resources and energy in the Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis, the lawsuit said. Between 2012 and 2019, Tao was awarded more than $4 million across 12 National Science Foundation and U.S. Department of Energy projects which totaled over $10 million.
During his career, Tao received many academic awards and honors, according to the lawsuit. From KU, Tao received the Miller Research Award in 2014, the Bellow Scholar Award in 2018 and the University Scholarly Achievement Award in 2019, which is the highest honor awarded to a KU mid-career faculty member. It recognizing “truly outstanding” scholarly contributions.
On Aug. 21, 2019, after collecting “evidence” provided by KU, the government arrested and charged Tao with one count of wire fraud and three counts of program fraud, according to the lawsuit. The wire fraud count accused Tao of submitting a conflicts of interest form in September 2018 that failed to disclose his relationship with Fuzhou University. Tao claimed he never certified the form.
The three program fraud counts accused Tao of defrauding KU of his salary, and the federal funding agencies because he allegedly failed to disclose his relationship with Fuzhou University on the form.
In October 2020, KU’s radio station falsely said Tao had been arrested for being a spy who stole intellectual property and secretly worked for a university in China while employed at KU, according to the lawsuit.
Why is Feng Tao suing KU?
On April 7, 2022, a jury found Tao guilty on three counts of wire fraud and one count of making a false statement, and found him not guilty on the remaining four counts of wire fraud and making a false statement. Tao immediately moved for acquittal on those counts notwithstanding the verdict.
On April 15, 2022, KU’s in-house counsel told Tao it intended to proceed with employment termination because of the jury verdict.
Tao and his attorney responded on April 19, 2022, stating criminal action had not concluded because a “conviction” under the law requires “a judgment of conviction has been rendered, the availability of appeal exhausted, and the time for a petition for certiorari elapsed or a petition for certiorari finally denied.”
On Sept. 20, 2022, the District Court acquitted Tao on the three wire fraud counts on the ground that “the evidence was legally and factually insufficient to support Tao’s wire fraud convictions.” Only one count of false statement held. The court also stated “there is no evidence that Tao’s conduct put KU or National Science Foundation at any risk of loss.”
On July 11, 2024, the Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit reversed Tao’s one conviction.
Tao on July 26, 2024, requested to be reinstated at KU, which would be denied about one month later, according to the lawsuit.
Feng Tao suing KU under what counts?
Tao is suing on six counts:
Three different counts of racial and national origin discrimination.
One count of wrongful termination on the basis of race, color and national origin.
One count of breach of contract.
One count of violating the Fourteenth Amendment through deprivation of procedural due process.
Tao isn’t asking for a specific dollar amount, the lawsuit said, but instead asking for an order requiring KU to reinstate him in his tenured position; damages for lost wages; damages for reputational injury, emotional distress, pain and suffering and punitive damages; reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs; and other relief as the court deems appropriate.”
GRAHAM PERRY COMMENTS;-
Remember the term “Reds Under the Beds”. It was a popular expression at the height of the Cold War in 1950’s used by the US to turn its World War II ally, the USSR, into the main enemy of the West. They story went like this – not only is the USSR a direct military threat, it is also subverting the domestic US political system by placing spies in all parts of US society. A mania gripped the US as citizens were taught to regard their neighbours as potential Soviet agents.
Something of the same is being repeated in the US today. This time the enemy is China whose economic progress can be explained – so the story goes – by pure deceit as Chinese spies “swamp” the US economic system stealing blueprints for transport back to China to fire up China’s surge in economic growth. China’s achievements, it is alleged, are due to China’s ability to engage in theft, subversion, photo-copying and the rest.
In truth the US spies on China and China spies on the US – why else do both countries have satellites filming each other’s developments from the sky – partly for defence but also to keep abreast of each other’s economic progress. It is interesting, therefore, to read of a case where a Chinese scientist at Kansas University has not only been cleared of espionage allegations but is fighting back against the University authorities after having been cleared of spying charges by US District Court.
Tao is now suing the University for an order requiring KU to reinstate him; damages for lost wages; damages for reputational injury, emotional distress, pain and suffering and punitive damages; reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.
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THE HUSBAND, THE WIFE AND THE OTHER WOMAN
THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
A Chinese mistress paid a “divorce fee” of 1.2 million yuan (US$165,000) to the legal wife of her married lover, only to have her petition for a refund rejected by the court after the wife accepted the money but refused to divorce.
In December 2013, a man surnamed Han, based in Shishi, Fujian province in southeastern China, married his wife, Yang, with whom he has two daughters whose ages remain undisclosed.
Later, Han began an affair with his colleague, identified as Shi. They also entered into a business partnership and welcomed a son together in November 2022.
In an attempt to “replace” Yang, Shi confronted her and proposed a deal, offering to pay 2 million yuan (US$280,000) if Yang agreed to divorce Han. To initiate the agreement, Shi transferred 1.2 million yuan to Yang at the end of 2022.
However, more than a year later, Yang still had not consented to a divorce.
Frustrated, the mistress demanded her money back and even filed a lawsuit to recover the 1.2 million yuan after the wife refused to return it.
Over a year after receiving the money, Yang still had not agreed to a divorce, prompting the mistress to take her to court.
In the lawsuit, Shi claimed there was a “verbal agreement” that the payment was contingent upon Yang divorcing Han and requested the court to order Yang to return the money along with overdue payment interest for breach of contract.
On February 7, the Shishi People’s Court ruled against Shi’s request, stating that the payment violated societal moral standards and public order as it was intended to disrupt a lawful marriage.
Additionally, it was determined that Han and Yang had already signed a divorce agreement and were in a “cooling-off period”, which meant that the payment did not meet the legal conditions for a refund.
This “cooling-off” period, imposed by the Chinese government in 2021, requires couples to wait 30 days after submitting a divorce application before the separation is finalised.
It has also been revealed that during his marriage, Han spent over 6 million yuan (US$825,000) on Shi without his wife’s knowledge.
Yue Zengchao, a lawyer from Henan Yushun Law Firm, explained to the Henan Broadcasting System that in such cases, the court is unlikely to side with the third party, even if the couple have not divorced.
The court denied Shi’s refund petition, stating the payment violated societal morals and public order by aiming to disrupt a lawful marriage.
“Any significant assets acquired by a married man during the affair, without his wife’s consent, are considered jointly owned by the couple. The wife has the legal right to demand the return of her share from the third party,” Yue clarified.
It remains unclear whether Han might face legal repercussions for potentially committing bigamy by living with and having children with someone else while still legally married.
The case has sparked lively discussion on Chinese social media, with many describing the outcome as “justice served”.
One commenter remarked: “The result is truly satisfying. Taking the money and refusing to divorce – this is the perfect way to make her lose both the man and the money!”
GRAHAM PERRY COMMENTS;-
There are a number of key features about this matrimonial dispute;-
That the dispute happened
That it went to Court
That the Court issued its judgement
That it attracted comment from Yue Zengchao, a lawyer from Henan Yushun Law Firm
That it was reported by the Henan Broadcasting System.
There is much about China that is missed because of the obsession of the media with the political issues arising out of the surge in the significance of China in global affairs. The speed with which China has arrived on the world scene had led to a significant omission of information about the evolution of Chinese society.
The US is leading the attempt to portray China as the leader of the Axis of Evil – along with Russia, Iran and North Korea – which threatens the well being and stability of the rest of the world. Day-to-day events take place against the biggest build up of military force the world has ever seen especially in the Far East with the focus on China. It is worthwhile recalling that China has one military base overseas in Djibouti, Africa which exists to service China’s considerable merchant fleet on the high seas. The US has more than 800 military bases.
As China build its defences in anticipation of a major military conflict with the US, the world’s attention often fails to keep abreast of developments within China and the above report serves to remind us that Chinese society embraces problems similar in some respects to those facing Western society. China does have divorce; there are prostitutes; crimes of theft and assault do occur; there is fraud and corruption; leaders are arrested and convicted for theft of funds; some people do resort to drugs. Those that like to give the impression that China is free of such criminal activity are naïve.
China is a society in transition and bears the marks of greed, selfishness, corruption and crime. By all accounts it is modest in volume and people walk the streets of the cities and countryside free of fear and anxiety .
Reports such as the above are always interesting to read because they provide a glimpse of the day-to-day issues in Chinese society that are so often overlooked because of the media’s obsession with viewing China as a “threat”.
GRAHAM PERRY
