New podcast #44 and this week's China news brief
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Hi guys. I am currently 39 weeks pregnant and very tired and uncomfortable. I think this might be the last newsletter for a while. I will try and squeeze another long-form one in next week, but I obviously can’t make any promises!
Thank you so much for your continued support — I will try and get back on the podcast and newsletter as soon as life permits!
Podcast
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In this episode we go over the CCP's attitudes towards religion during the first 15 years of the PRC to 1965. These developments are important for understand why anti-religious sentiment reached such a fever-pitch during the Cultural Revolution, as well as why there has been a resurgence in interest in religion since the country's opening up in the 1980s.
We discuss the five officially recognised religions - Daoism, Buddhism, Islam, Catholicism and Protestantism - as well as Confucianism, and the local folk religions that were all thrown under the umbrella of 'superstition'. We start by examining the origins of the the anti-religious mood of 20th century China, which actually began as early as the late Qing dynasty. We then discuss the secularisation of China, and the institutionalisation of religions that made them easier to oversee and control.
News
SCMP, University of Hong Kong cuts ties with student union: Following their statement in solidarity with a man who stabbed a police officer before committing suicide, The University of Hong Kong (HKU) has cut all ties with its student union after the Chief Executive Carrie Lam voiced her criticism. The move could see the union’s considerable assets frozen, as well as leaving undergraduate students without representatives in the university’s governing and administrative bodies.
Reuters, Didi confirms China app removals, sees revenue hit: China’s Uber has had its apps removed from Chinese app stores following a probe into its data sharing practices. This is part of an ongoing investigation into the company which greatly affected its NYSE IPO earlier this month.
Is this part of what many outlets are heralding as China’s tech crackdown? The New York Times argues that it is, and that crackdowns on fintech companies in particular are hurting confidence in the market and may affect future investment.
Sixth Tone, To Improve Governance, China Ups Control Over Its Grassroots: New documents released by the CCP and the government show that the government plans to increase oversight of village committees and urban residents committees, moving away from its long-term methods of autonomy. Here’s a Twitter thread that also helps explain the changes:
SCMP, Boy, 15, likely to be charged under Hong Kong’s national security law over alleged terrorist plot, police source says: Three people were arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit terrorism in Hong Kong earlier this week, including a 15 year-old-boy.
Bloomberg, Hong Kong’s Exodus Is Real and Painful [paywall]: This opinion piece highlights the very real flight of young families out of Hong Kong, and why Beijing is wrong to overlook them. By the way, if you’re a British citizen interested in helping Hong Kong families with their relocation to the UK, there is a service called HK Linkup where you can sign up to do just that!
HKFP, Interview: Now Macau’s pro-democracy politicians face a Hong Kong-style crackdown: Last week, the Macau electoral commission removed all 21 pro-democracy contenders from the upcoming legislative elections without warning. Apparently they had failed “to uphold the Basic Law and bear allegiance to Macau.” This interview with 2 pro-democracy lawmakers shows how Macau is going through the same electoral pain as Hong Kong.
The Guardian, Tibet monks jailed with no apparent evidence of wrongdoing, says HRW: Four monks have been jailed for up to 20 years following a raid on a monastery in 2019 and a series of secretive, closed-door trials. HRW have said that this move may have been part of China’s ‘preventive policing’, which they consider a violation of the human rights of groups in China such as Tibetans and Uyghurs.
WSJ, China Locks Up Xinjiang’s Uyghur Businessmen; ‘In Their Eyes, We Are All Guilty’: Speaking of Uyghurs, more fun news coming out of Xinjiang. This Wall Street Journal highlights an often overlooked sector of the Uyghur population targeted by the government — successful businessmen. While their families suffer directly once they’re disappeared, their communities also take a hit as the patronage and hope that these businessmen once provided leaves Uyghurs with no choice but to rely on the CCP.
Another article by World Politics Review discusses the ongoing Xinjiang cotton debacle, the impact it’s having on retailers in the US, and China’s response.
The Guardian, Man in China reunited with son abducted 24 years ago: I’m not crying, you’re crying.
Have a great week guys!
Edi