What's New

June 4 in Hong Kong under National Security Law

Backchat on June 4 with RTHK (Radio Television Hong Kong) (Visit the third bar (Part 2)) 

The full name of the Alliance featured in the show is Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China 支聯會 which has been organizing the annual June 4 candle-light vigil in Hong Kong's Victoria Park for decades. It is an iconic mass rally signifying Hong Kong's unique status under One Country Two Systems. 

The Alliance has five operational goals:

1. 釋放民運人士 (Release the dissidents)
2. 平反八九民運 (Rehabilitate the 1989 Pro-democracy Movement)
3. 追究屠城責任 (Demand accountability of the June 4 Riot)
4. 結束一黨專政 (End One-Party dictatorship)
5. 建設民主中國 (Build a democratic China)

Under Hong Kong's National Security Law of 30 June 2020, these five goals have become problematic. Item 4 is a direct contravention. The Alliance will run foul of the new law unless it changes its constitution and direction substantially, including abandoning Item 4 of its aims. 

Pyongyang accuses Washington of insulting dignity of North Korean leadership

Live interview with PressTV on 2 May, 2021.

Hong Kong Immigration Bill amendment controversy

Backchat with RTHK (Radio Television Hong Kong) on 30th April, 2021 (The topic is embedded in the last bottom bar). 

Suspension of HK protest documentary "Inside the Red Brick Wall"

Backchat on 23 April 2021 with RTHK (Radio Television Hong Kong) (Go straight to the second last bar, marked "Documentaries")

Russia warns against Ukraine-NATO activities

Live TV interview on 21 April 2021 with PressTV.

Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community April 2021

Download Annual Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community April 9 2021

The relatively succinct unclassified Report by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) (not to be confused with the Director of Central Intelligence) gives a tour d'horizon of US national threats as currently perceived by the entire U.S. Intelligence Community. The China Threat, now regarded as America's top threat - is summarized in the introductory paragraph in the China section -

"The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) will continue its whole-of-government efforts to spread China’s influence, undercut that of the United States, drive wedges between Washington and its allies and partners, and foster new international norms that favor the authoritarian Chinese system. Chinese leaders probably will, however, seek tactical opportunities to reduce tensions with Washington when such opportunities suit their interests. China will maintain its major innovation and industrial policies because Chinese leaders see this strategy as necessary to reduce dependence on foreign technologies, enable military advances, and sustain economic growth and thus ensure the CCP’s survival."

The Report ticks all the relevant boxes. Apart from the usual zero-sum binary mindset, reference to "CCP's survival" at the end of the above introduction seems to miss the main reason for the CCP's durability.

Among governments across the globe in terms of people's support, the CCP scores top ranking, even multiple ranks above the United States. This has been achieved by dramatically improving people's livelihood and aspirations over decades under its stewardship, as highlighted in a Harvard Kennedy School Ash Center Report of July 2020. 

Separately, there is a total absence of analysis on China's massive footprint in Africa, even in the extremely brief section on Africa. Regardless of the ODNI's priorities, this misses the full global picture of China's growing clout in the African continent which is blessed with the world's youngest and most dynamic population as well as a cornucopia of natural resources. 

Hong Kong to introduce Beijing-imposed electoral reform - whys and wherefores

Backchat on 14 April 2021 with RTHK (Radio Television Hong Kong) (My intervention is all embedded in the first bar, right from the start). 

What has led to Beijing's imposed National Security Law and electoral reform is vividly encapsulated in South China Morning Post's unbiased video documentary China’s Rebel City: The Hong Kong Protests. Now the dust has somewhat settled, it is useful to reflect on what happened, the whys and wherefores, the outcome, and the current reality. 

Andrew's April 2021 Newsletter

(My quarterly Newsletter goes out to some 8,500 professional contacts worldwide. The following is my April 2021 issue. Back numbers may be accessed under What's New on my website) 

Greetings!

 

While we remain consumed by Covid-19 fears, much of the world dynamics has changed almost beyond recognition. China's seemingly unstoppable rise and undaunted national confidence have engendered open or hidden anxieties, if not sinophobia, across the globe, not least in the United States and its Western allies. A fig-leaf of "cooperation" fails to hide a generational paradigm shift towards "extreme competition", if not a "Second Cold War", against China, subconsciously feared to erode the US-led liberal world order, with all that implies. 

 

A deeply-interconnected and interdependent world is now caught in a dilemma of disruptions, realignment of interests, and coercive actions with high-stake risks. Much seems to be knee-jerk reactions trying to avoid the unavoidable: a back-to-the-future reality that a 21st-century "Middle Kingdom" may soon regain its former prominence and global influence that characterized the world before the 18th century. 

 

How this pendulum swing may play out remains, at best, uncertain. The following may offer some useful food for thought. 

 

US-China geopolitics

How the US can offer a realistic response to the "China challenge"  (Op-ed in the South China Morning Post) 

How Will We (U.S.) Win the Second Cold War? (An in-depth analysis) 

Biden-Presidency's first stormy US-China high-level talks in Alaska - what do they imply? (Live TV panel discussion on Indus News and other sources) 

China, US diplomats clash in public as Alaska talks kick off (Exclusive live interview on TRT World) 

Rogue Superpower: Why This Could Be an Illiberal American Century (Op-ed in World Geostrategic Insights) Click here for Foreign Affairs and other sources. 

US-China Relations - The Avoidable War: The Decade of Living Dangerously (Asia Policy Institute essay)

US strategy on China informed by systemic mistrust and misjudgment (Live interview on Press TV)

In Focus: South Asia - Military part of overall China threat  (Live TV panel discussion on Indus News)

America bids farewell to Trump, but Trumpism lives on (Op-ed in the South China Morning Post)  

 

China Overview

China's game-changing Five Year Plan (2021-25) ((Feature article in The Global Analyst) 

China GDP: Growth Sans Productivity - How China is to overcome its productivity hurdle (Feature article in The Global Analyst) 

How China’s digital currency will thwart US dollar trap and help the world (Op-ed in the South China Morning Post) 

Why is China moving to a digital RMB? (A comprehensive analysis) 

How foreign businesses in China should respond to embedded "Party cells" (Asia Sentinel quotes) 

 

South China Sea

Contest of power in the South China Sea, dissecting dynamics of history, security and geopolitics (Live TV panel discussion on Indus News)

 

Human Rights

Western sanctions based on Xinjiang "genocide" claim (Some in-depth perspectives) 

China accuses EU of ‘hypocrisy’ over Uyghur row (Live interview with Press TV) 

 

Culture 

Is China "hijacking" Hollywood? (Live TV panel discussion on CNN News 18 of India and other sources) 

 

Covid-19

Why was WHO visit to China delayed and what's the global outlook on Chinese vaccines?(Backchat on Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK))

 

 

Middle East

China's Economic Interests in the GCC are informed by energy security and global geopolitics (Op-ed in Politics Today) 

 

India

LAC disengagement - will it end India-China standoff? (Live TV panel discussion on CNN News 18 of India) 

LAC standoff: PLA, Indian troops begin process of disengagement but will be a long haul (Live TV panel discussion on CNN News 18 of India) 

India Budget 2021:How will India woo corporate refugees exiting China? (Live TV panel discussion on WION (World is One News) of India.

 

Hong Kong

Conviction of prominent pro-democracy activists spells end of democracy in HK? (Exclusive live TV interview on Channel News Asia (CNA) of Singapore) 

Beijing changes Hong Kong's electoral system (Backchat on Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) 

Controversy over Hong Kong British Nationality (Overseas) (BNO) Passports (Live TV interview on Channel News Asia (CNA) of Singapore and interview opinion piece on Sputnik News of Moscow. 

Dozens of Hong Kong opposition members arrested for subversion (Exclusive live TV interview on TRT World of Turkey)

Hong Kong fugitives crossing into Mainland China tried according to China's laws (Exclusive live TV interview on TRT World of Turkey)

How is Hong Kong impacted by changed US-China relations and problems with Covid-19 vaccines (Backchat on Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK))

Macau and Hong Kong different paths to China. Why? (Inside Story TV panel discussion with Aljazeera English Channel) 

Hong Kong's elderly transport subsidy (Backchat on Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) 

 

Cheer up and chill out

A repertoire of inspirational music, videos, songs and words. There is also a collection in Chinese.

Invitation for expressions of interest in investment opportunities

An upended world abounds with fresh BUY and SELL investment opportunities on many fronts across the globe, including new technologies, new markets and new businesses. If you wish to avail yourself of my business network worldwide, please drop me a line on a strictly no-commitment basis initially. A UK property and alternative asset opportunity is featured here .

Consultation services

Please email me at andrewkpleung@gmail.com or text my Hong Kong mobile +852 98198987.  I can also be reached on Skype at andrew.k.p.leung, LinkedIn at andrewleunginternational, Whatsapp at (852) 98198987, WeChat at Andrewkpleung, Facebook at andrewkinpongleung, and Twitter at @Andrewkpleung

Speaking and lecturing invitations

I am open to invitations or proposals for speaking engagements, visiting lectures and tailor-made electives as a visiting/adjunct professor. 

Business networking and speaking platform in Hong Kong

As an Advisor to the Denmark-based Executives' Global Network Hong Kong, I welcome your suggestion of a suitable speaker for an EGN event in Hong Kong. This will be entirely at our own cost with acknowledgement of your support, provided that we are not asked to cover any speaking fee, travel or accommodation expenses.

RSS feed and weblinks

My postings are regularly uploaded under my three blogs CHINAwatch, Publications and What is New on www.andrewleunginternationalconsultants.com  A collection of leading China media and research sites can be found under China Links.

Please feel free to save my website on your computer, laptop, tablet, Blackberry, iPhone or iPad as a reference resource. If you wish instant access as soon as my postings appear, just click on “Subscribe to this blog’s feed” under RSS Feed on top of the right-hand column of each blog. Select the appropriate Google feed option. It is free of charge.  

This newsletter is uploaded to my website here. You may save it for reference or reading at leisure and to share it on Facebook, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, Twitter or other social media devices.

Courtesies

I look forward to your guidance, advice, comments, suggestions, and criticisms. You may share the above contents with colleagues or friends. You are also welcome to publish any of them with full attribution. 

If you think that I may add value to your endeavors in any way, please let me know how I may help.  If for any reason you do not wish to receive my emails, just ask me to delete your name from my databank permanently. 

Best personal regards, 

Andrew K.P. Leung, SBS, FRSA

International and Independent China Strategist

www.andrewleunginternationalconsultants.com  

Positions  

Chairman and CEO, Andrew Leung International Consultants and Investments Limited

(Founded in London, now re-incorporated in Hong Kong; name changed from Andrew Leung International Consultants Limited as from 10 July, 2017) 

China Futures Fellow, Berkshire Publishing Group, Massachusetts, USA (2011-13)
Brain Trust member, The Evian Group (global think-tank), Lausanne, Switzerland

Gerson Lehrman Group (Global Experts) Council Member
International Expert, Reuters Insight Community of Experts, Thomson Reuters

Senior Analyst, Wikistrat , a cloud-sourced global strategic consultancy based in Washington D.C.

Senior Consultant, MEC International (a UK-based global strategic energy consultancy) 

Distinguished Contributor, Asymmetric Threats Contingency Alliance (ATCA) (global think-tank)

Professor of Practice, Hong Kong Institute of Education for Sustainable Development (2018-20)

Certified Sustainable Development Planner, World Institute of Sustainable Development Planners

Fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (FRSA)

Elected Member, Royal Society for Asian Affairs

Think-tank Research Fellow, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai Campus, PRC (14.4.2017-13.4.2020) 

Advisory Board member, The e-Centre , European Centre for e-Commerce and Internet Law, Vienna 

Honorary Adviser, International Institute of Management (IIM) 

Advisory Board member, The Global Analyst, India

Honorary President  Yat-sen University Business School, China (2005-10)

Founding Chairman, China Group, Institute of Directors City Branch, London, UK (2006-2010)
Vice Chairman, 48 Group Club, UK (2008-2010)
Committee Member of RSA, London Region, UK (2006-2010)
Included in UK's Who's Who since 2002

Awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star (SBS) in the July 2005 Hong Kong Honours List , China Hong Kong Economic and Trading International Association (from 28 March, 2016) 

Global Commercial Agent, Changsha City, China

Hong Kong Advisory Board member, Denmark-based Executive Global Network (EGN)

Visiting Professor, London Metropolitan University Business School 

Governing Council Member, King’s College London, UK (2004-2010)
Advisory Board member, China Policy Institute, Nottingham University, UK (2005 -2010)

Visiting Professor, Sun Yat-sen University Business School, China (2005-10)
Founding Chairman, China Group, Institute of Directors City Branch, London, UK (2006-2010)
Vice Chairman, 48 Group Club, UK (2008-2010)
Committee Member of RSA, London Region, UK (2006-2010)
Included in UK's Who's Who since 2002
Awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star (SBS) in the July 2005 Hong Kong Honours List 

Conviction of prominent pro-democracy activists spells end of democracy in HK?

Exclusive live TV interview with CNA (Channel News Asia) of Singapore. 

Beijing changes Hong Kong's electoral system

Backchat with RTHK (Radio Television Hong Kong) on 8 March, 2021 (My contribution is embedded in Part 2, the third bar. My opposite interviewee is Emily Lau, former Democratic Party lawmaker.)