German chancellor Olaf Scholz gives his first new year’s address. After 16 years of Merkel it almost feels odd to see someone else. 🧵
I don't want to over analyze on New Year's Eve but I couldn't help but notice that Chancellor Scholz's hands never moved once during his entire 9:43 second talk. They remained calmly crossed as he stood (not speaking from a desk). How it started and how it ended.
Chancellor Scholz brought up new challenges regarding Ukraine. "The inviolability of borders is precious and is not negotiable."
Chancellor Scholz closed with "A new era is dawning. An ear that will be successful if we actively shape it. Because we can make a difference if we remain determined and take our fate into our own hands."
Germany under Chancellor Scholz's leadership is "determined to take our fate into our own hands," but it is difficult to picture if he is not willing to lift a finger? 😉
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"Public opinion news war is arduous & necessary,”China Daily said in 2020 bidding doc for “forgn personnel analysis platform" that mines Twitter,Facebook & YouTube for data on 'well known Wstrn media journalists' &'key personnel from political, biz & media”washingtonpost.com/national-secur…
🇨🇳at home is🇨🇳abroad. "🇨🇳is turning mjr part of its internal Internet-data surveillance network outward, mining Wstrn social media, including Facebook & Twitter,to equip its govt agencies, military & police w/ info on foreign targets, according to a Washington Post review."
It calls for weekly data reports on HK,Taiwan & US relatns.“International balance of powr has bn profoundly adjusted.Through collection of public Internet info we can keep close eye on internatnl community,analyze sensitivities & hot spots,& maintain stability of Chinese society”
Perry Link:"I am as eager as anyone to follow world’s virologists as they try to determine how C19 emerged in Wuhan.But as longtime student of Chinese Communist political language,I will nd considerable persuading that disease came from bats or wet market."wsj.com/articles/beiji…
"The linguistic evidence is overwhelming that Chinese leaders believe the Wuhan Institute of Virology was the source."
"Many yrs ago distinguished Chinese writer, Wu Zuxiang, explained to me that there is truth in Communist Party pronouncements,but u hv to read them “upside down.” If a newspaper says “Party has made great strides against corruption in Henan,” then u know that corruption has...
"For all its hard #propaganda work,post-Mao Communist Party has struggled to win eyeballs away from commercial TV & film, whether domestic or foreign.Evn w/ power to compel country’s top directors & biggest stars to participate...wsj.com/articles/china…
..."officials had to juice box-office numbers for films about party history by requiring state-owned companies to buy tickets for their employees.
That frustrates Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who has repeatedly exhorted his propaganda officials to “tell China’s story well.”
In a speech published last month by the party’s main theoretical journal, Mr. Xi said it was imperative to “encourage the creation of artistic content about party history, especially film and TV.”
“Chinese TV stations have been blurring out Western brand logos in their programmes, in a show of support for China's Xinjiang cotton campaign.” bbc.co.uk/news/world-asi…
Chinese censors blurred Western brand logos on over 50 t-shirts in this footage.
CCP's relentless censorship leads to some amusing effects: "Episodes of popular variety shows such as Sisters Who Make Waves now feature singers and actors who look like they are floating on clouds, thanks to their blurred out shoes."
"Turkish official said that shortages had not yet impacted relations between the 2 countries. But 'if China overpromises, in the future they may be more cautious,' added the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomatic ties.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_e…
"Turkey has maintained delicate balance w/🇨🇳over past few yrs,toning down its criticism of Beijing’s crackdown on Muslim Uyghurs as Ankara seeks Chinese investment for its hobbled economy — and more recently, vaccine."
China is only slightly behind India,which last month announcd it was temporarily banning exports amid politicl criticism of vaccination efforts at home...Citing govt reports,China sent 60% of its productn of Sinovac & Sinopharm vaccine as aid to 53 countries & paid exports to 27.
Digitized money looks like potential macroeconomic dream tool for issuing govt,usable to track ppl’s spending in real time,speed relief to disastr victms or flag criminal activityW/ it,Beijing stands to gain vast new powrs to tightn Xi’s authoritarian rule.wsj.com/articles/china…
"The digital yuan could give those the U.S. seeks to penalize a way to exchange money without U.S. knowledge. Exchanges wouldn’t need to use SWIFT, the messaging network that is used in money transfers between commercial banks and that can be monitored by the U.S. government."
🇨🇳’s marketing for digital yuan kicks into high gear,an Englsh-language animatn circulatd online by CGTN shows man in US-flag shirt knockd out by digital yuan.“This is one of buildng blocks of🇨🇳’s move towrd world markt status & greatr involvmnt in settng framework of globl econ"