What's New: Development

June 10, 2020

Andrew's June 2020 Newsletter

(My quarterly Newsletter goes out to some 8,500 professional contacts worldwide. The following is my June 2020 issue. Back numbers may be accessed under What's New on this website)

Greetings!

In just a few months, the world has changed almost beyond recognition. The Coronavirus pandemic has revealed the true colors of nations and peoples. It has changed how lives and businesses can be conducted. It has intensified an epochal contest for global power leading to a face-off between the world's Superpower (with its liberal world order) and its perceived challenger, with increasing risks of miscalculations.

Hong Kong, where I am based, is right at the center of these shocks. As if that is not enough, Beijing's unilateral introduction of a national security law for Hong Kong rattles the dynamics underpinning One Country Two Systems. This unique status has been an incalculable boon not only for China and the Special Administrative Region but for the rest of the world. Now the United States is threatening unspecified sanctions which could undermine Hong Kong's survival as a global financial center.

Amidst the doom and gloom, the following may hopefully offer some fresh perspectives in seeing through the smoke and mirrors.

Hong Kong

USA-China tussle: geo-strategically the report on the death of Hong Kong's autonomy is somewhat exaggerated (A dissection of what is behind Hong Kong's national security law)

China's HK national security law threatens HK's One Country Two Systems? (Live interview on WION TV)

Hong Kong leader slams ‘double standards’ on national security, cites US unrest (Live interview on Press TV)

Hong Kong govt. warns removing US special status is "double-edged sword" (Live interview on Press TV)

Hong Kong’s leader reaffirms new law would not harm rights, freedoms (Live interview on Press TV)

Should Hong Kong civil servants be loyal to Beijing? (A RTHK Backchat discussion)

National Security Law and personal freedom (A RTHK Backchat discussion)

Is the US posture on Hong Kong's national security law part of the anti-China "cold war"? (Live interview on TRT World)

China's controversial security law becomes a flash point in Hong Kong (Live TV interview on WION of India and CCTV background documentary)

Pompeo threatens China on impinging on Hong Kong's autonomy and freedoms (Live interview on Press TV)

A "mid-term" Hong Kong Government ministerial reshuffle (A RTHK Backchat discussion)

US-China great power rivalry

Strategic US-China decoupling in the tech sector (A Hinrich Foundation report)

United States Strategic Approach to the People’s Republic of China (An in-depth analysis)

The Struggle for Power: U.S.-China Relations in the 21st Century (A prelude to a new US defining strategy)

US China "Cold War" and the Coronavirus Crisis (Live interview on Press TV)

Why China is better prepared than other economic powers for any global crisis (Article in RT Question Time)

Where is China? - A perspective (A multi-angle look on multi-media)

Could Trump's spat with NATO over Huawei hasten the demise of NATO? (Sputnik's Opinion piece)

US - China strategic relations amidst allegations of China's secret low-level nuclear testing (Live TV panel discussion on Indus News)

US: China secretly conducting small nuclear tests (Live interview on Press TV)

Coronavirus crisis

Will China become weaker or stronger after Covid-19? (A critical appraisal)

Ten reasons why the Coronavirus crisis spawns a brave new world of discord (Article in World Strategic Insights)

Covid-19 Crisis - Can China bounce back? (Feature report in The Global Analyst)

Wikistrat Report: The Impact of the Coronavirus on China's Stability (An analytical Wikistrat summary)

China's Handling of Covid-19 Crisis is 'Embarrassment' for Trump Ahead of 2020 Election (Radio interview transcript on Sputnik International)

How an independent investigation into the origin of Coronavirus should be conducted (Live TV panel discussion on Indus News)

How the UN Security Council could agree on reining in mutual aggression to fight Covid-19? (Live interview on Press TV)

What's behind US accusations against China over the Coronavirus crisis (Live interview on Press TV)

Is China to blame for Covid-19 pandemic? (An in-depth analysis)

RSF complains to UN about Coronavirus press freedom (Live TV panel discussion on Indus News)

US-China sprat over Coronavirus pandemic (Live interview on Indus News)

Trump blames China for the Coronavirus pandemic (Live interview on RT)

China raps Trump over Chinese virus tweet (Live interview on Press TV)

China offers help to US to deal with Coronavirus (Live interview on Press TV)

Hong Kong announces $15 billion in spending ton support Covid-19 ridden economy (Live TV interview on TRT World)

Over 500 passengers allowed to leave ship after being tested negative for Covid-19 (Live interview on Press TV)

Economic impact of Covid-19 on global economy (Live TV interview on Ren TV of Moscow)

Is the world prepared for a looming Covid-19 pandemic? (Live panel discussion on Indus News)

World Order

The Decline of the West: What is it and Why might it matter? (An Asia Global Institute paper)

"The China Mirage" - Timely revisit of America's tragic misreading of China (A critical look at the looming risks)

New Money: The Greatest Wealth Creation Event in History (2019) - Full Documentary (A Stanberry Research documentary)

China in a New Era of Global Disruptions (including Covid-19 pandemic) (A PowerPoint presentation)

The Coronavirus could usher in a Brave New World (An in-depth analysis)

China has created tech ‘new world order’ in Big data and AI (A Future Today Institute tech-trend report)

Taiwan

US approves sale of 18 MK-48 MOD6 torpedoes to Taiwan worth about $180mn (Live interview with Press TV)

China blasts meddling as US signs new Taiwan support law (Live interview on Press TV)

Energy

China extracts 861,400 cubic metres of natural gas from ‘flammable ice’ in South China Sea (A global energy game-changer)

History

Book Review of "The Last Journey Of The San Bao Eunuch, Admiral Zheng He" (Book review invited by author)

7th International Conference on Eurasian Politics & Society in Lisbon, Portugal postponed to 24-25 September 2020

Subject to exigencies, I am scheduled to present at the above international conference my full-length Paper How will Eurasian Integration of China's Belt & Road Initiative fare in defending a Multipolar World Order. Should this materialize, I will upload my Paper and PowerPoint presentation to this website afterwards.

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.

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, 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

Posted at 11:38 AM in Asia, Banking, Biotechnology, Books, Business promotion, China Business, China's politics, China's Rise, Cities, Climate Change , Consumption, Currencies, Current Affairs, Defense, Democracy, Development_, e-Commerce, Economy, Emerging Economies, Energy, EU, Europe, Finance, Food and Drink, Food and Water Security, Future, Gas, Geopolitics, Globalization, Healthcare, History, Hong Kong, Innovation, Investment , Japan, Manufacturing , Middle Class, North Korea, Population, Regional development, Russia, Science, Sustainable Development, Taiwan, Technology, Television, United States, Urbanization, Vietnam, World | Permalink | Comments (0)

April 24, 2020

Is China to blame for Covid-19 pandemic?

After some initial fumbling in December 2019, when the nature of the virus became more certain, China started to notify the WHO and the United States on 3 January, 2020, including sharing of findings in prestigious scientific journals.

Wuhan, a metropolis of 11 million people, was first locked down on 23 January, sending an unmistakable signal to the world of a massive virus outbreak. However, it seemed that the initial alarm bells were not taken seriously enough by the United States and other Western countries. When the pandemic finally exploded in their faces, they found themselves caught with their pants down.

Against accusing fingers, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Madam Hua Chunying aired a rebuttal on 31 March, detailing relevant timelines.

Former US Deputy National Security Adviser Nadia Schadlow and scholar Kishore Mahbubani joined Fareed Zakaria on CNN on 19 April to debate President Trump's accusations against China, echoed by supporting politicians.

Responding to a class-action law suit filed in the state of Florida suing China for Coronavirus compensations, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang pointed out its fallacy on 20 April, reminding the world that no compensation was sought from the United States for spread of the H1N1 pandemic in 2009-10. Click here (Similarly, no question of compensation was ever raised for the world financial crisis spawned in the United States in 2008-9).

Conjectures about the origin of Coronavirus abound, including conspiracy theories about lab-engineered "biowarfare" by either side, notwithstanding the fact that the Wuhan virology lab, first established in 1956, has a long history of international scientific collaboration, including the University of Texas's Galveston National Laboratory on biocontainment. Click here

In face of growing demand by world leaders including German Chancellor Angela Merkel to know the truth, a more independent and international investigation is called for than US partisan or bipartisan committees bent on a "China witch hunt". It is also becoming evident that the virus was spreading in the United States much earlier than the Wuhan outbreak.

What the world needs is peer-reviewed global scientific research, ideally involving professionals from both China and the United States - to find out exactly:

(a) regardless of initial spread, where did the current Coronavirus first originate, taking into account various strains of the same virus;

(b) whether the infected cases in some European countries and the US originate from the same virus strain obtaining in China;

(d) how the WHO could be made even more independent and transparent;

(e) how the world should cooperate in finding an affordable vaccine for Covid-19, poised to ravage the developing world;

(f) how the developing world can be helped to fight this exploding human catastrophe;

(g) what global measures should be put in place to contain Covid-19, including the probability of resurgence with changing of seasons;

(h) what protocols should be adopted by communities and businesses to cope with a new normal of Coronavirus;

(i) what measures should be adopted across the globe to safeguard health and security of international travel, both air, sea and overland;

(j) how international protection against the ravages of pandemics should be funded and managed for the common good and not just big pharmaceutical.

corporations.

On Feature Story News, an interantional broadcast agency, I made the point on 23 April, 2020 that to end all speculations, and indeed, to expose unfounded accusations, China should benefit from a truly independent and international joint investigation as outlined above, perhaps under the aegis of the United Nations.

Download News Clip (Radio)

Posted at 01:56 AM in Africa, Asia, Biotechnology, Central America, China's politics, China's Rise, Covid-19, Current Affairs, Democracy, Development_, Economy, EU, Europe, Geopolitics, Globalization, Healthcare, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Latin America, North Korea, Pakistan, Politics, Public health , Russia, Science, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Sustainable Development, Taiwan, Technology, Television, Transport, Travel, Turkey, UK, United States, Urbanization, Warfare, World | Permalink | Comments (0)

April 17, 2020

US - China strategic relations amidst allegations of China's secret low-level nuclear testing

Live TV discussion with Indus News on 17 April, 2020 (My intervention starts at time counter 18:11)

Posted at 03:09 PM in Asia, China's politics, China's Rise, Consumption, Covid-19, Current Affairs, Defense, Democracy, Denuclearization, Development_, e-Commerce, Economics, Economy, Emerging Economies, Energy, Future, Gas, Geopolitics, Globalization, Healthcare, History, Innovation, Manufacturing , Middle Class, Military, North Korea, Pakistan, Politics, Public health , Regional development, Russia, South China Sea, Southeast Asia, Taiwan, Technology, UK, United States, Warfare, World | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 25, 2020

The Coronavirus could usher in a Brave New World

China Is Maneuvering for International Leadership as the United States Falters, notes an article in Foreign Affairs dated 18 March, 2020 - The Coronavirus Could Reshape Global Order.

The piece flags up China's initial coverup and its subsequent turning of the table on Western narratives. Boosted by its position as the world's dominant producer of critical anti-virus equipment and supplies, China is positioning itself as a global saviour as much of the West, especially the United States, is overwhelmed by sheer lack of preparedness, worry over economic interests, and a certain amount of wishful thinking.

The EU has recently sounded warning bells about China's geopolitical ambitions as it emerges from the crisis. While many countries are benefitting from China's timely supply of medical equipment, especially life-saving ventilators, there is growing international momentum involving China and other countries to coordinate efforts, and share experience, expertise and research for an effective vaccine. The G20 video conferencing on 26 March is an important milestone.

As the Southern Hemisphere is beginning to stand on edge, the crisis seems just unfolding. There is critical demand for more WHO monitoring, openness of testing statistics, joint research into the virus's origin and behaviour, more emphasis on human lives, and greater leadership of the world's two superpowers - the United States and China.

What's more, it's important to remember viruses have no borders. Before raising accusing fingers, it is instructive to recall where the 2009-10 global H1N1 "swine fever" first started to spread, infecting some 1.3 billion people worldwide and causing well over half a million deaths.

In any event, when the crisis is all over, the world will not be the same again.

A new world order is already emerging. Economic gravitas has been shifting away from developed countries. They are no longer key drivers of global growth. More countries will become sensitive to external dependence, especially on critical health and security architecture.

On the other hand, the whole world will become even more connected thanks to new digital technologies. Supply and value chains may change but they have become intricately intertwined across the globe that complete decoupling is unlikely to be possible. More people will become aware of each other country's interdependence, thanks to the Coronavirus and growing threats of Climate Change.

China, for one, seems more prepared than others to embrace a looming Brave New World. China in a new Era of Global Disruptions, my latest PowerPoint presentation, may offer more food for thought.

Posted at 06:36 PM in Asia, Banking, Biotechnology, Books, BRICS, Business promotion, China Business, China's politics, China's Rise, Climate Change , Consumption, Currencies, Current Affairs, Defense, Democracy, Development_, e-Commerce, Economy, Emerging Economies, Energy, Ethics, EU, Europe, Finance, Future, Gas, Geopolitics, Globalization, Healthcare, Hong Kong, Innovation, Investment , Japan, Manufacturing , Middle Class, Military, North Korea, Philosophy, Population, Regional development, Russia, Science, Sustainable Development, Taiwan, Technology, Travel, United States, Urbanization, Vietnam, World | Permalink | Comments (0)

February 27, 2020

Is the world prepared for a looming Covid-19 pandemic?

Live TV panel discussion on Indus News on 26 February, 2020 (My part starts mid-way through the video clip)

Posted at 01:02 AM in Asia, Biotechnology, China's politics, Climate Change , Current Affairs, Development_, Economics, Economy, Food and Drink, Globalization, Healthcare, Hong Kong, Japan, Lifestyle, Middle East, Public health , Sustainable Development, Technology, Television, United States, World | Permalink | Comments (0)

February 19, 2020

Andrew's March 2020 Newsletter

(My quarterly Newsletter goes out to some 8,500 professional contacts worldwide. The following is my March 2020 issue. Back numbers may be accessed under What's New on this website)

Greetings from Hong Kong!

We are still in the grip of somewhat overlapping crises, epidemic and political. The Motherland is facing an unprecedented double-whammy. The economic fallout from a bitter trade war with the United States is far from over. At the same time, death of a prominent Covid-19 epidemic whistle-blower exposed the fault lines of China's top-down model for all to see, both within and outside China. This hands convenient ammunition to "China hawks" across the aisle on Capitol Hill at a time of sharpening contest between a US-led liberal world order and its perceived challenger.

In a way, Hong Kong is an epitome of a disrupted world on all fronts. These include widening political divides, clamour for social justice, epidemic black swans, Climate Change, vulnerability to over-globalization and one-sided supply chains, and collateral damage resulting from intensifying US-China rivalry, not to mention disruptive technologies like 5-G and artificial intelligence.

How these crises and disruptions unfold will not only re-configure economies, businesses, and international relations across the globe, but will likely re-shape the world order and people's daily lives in decades to come.

Hopefully, the following may offer a little food for thought.

Covid-19 Crisis

Latest development on the coronavirus crisis in Hong Kong and the Mainland (Live radio panel discussion on Backchat with Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK)

China injects $173 billion to stabilize economy following virus outbreak (Live interview with PressTV)

WHO declares international health emergency on Wuhan novel coronavirus (Live interview with PressTV)

Hong Kong under political stress

Six powerful reasons for Beijing to rethink how Hong Kong should be governed, in the interests of long-term stability (South China Morning Post Op-ed)

Hong Kong should enact national security laws, then seek a more liberal way to elect the chief executive (South China Morning Post Op-ed)

Tsai’s win won’t help HK protests (Quoted in The Strait Times)

China sanctions US NGOs in China in retaliation of the enactment of Hong Kong Human Rights & Democracy Act (Sputnik News radio interview and article)

The Brief: Hong Kong Protests: behind the smoke and mirrors (In-depth live interviews with A News Television of Turkey).

End of siege of HK Polytechnic University, discovery of cache of petrol bombs and weapons and HK Human Rights and Democracy Act (Live interview with RT)

Hong Kong protests after Beijing's Fourth Plenum (Two-part TV interview on Talk the Walk with HKIBC (Hong Kong International Business Channel)

Over 200 demonstrators arrested after weekend of increased violence (Live TV interview on RT)

US-China Rivalry

Trump threatens to cut off intelligence sharing with countries using Huawei (Live interview with PressTV)

After UK, France allows Huawei on 5G participation, with stringent safeguards (Live interview with PressTV)

China raps US defense bill targeting its firms (Live interview with PressTV)

US National Security Commission Report on Artificial Intelligence (Interim Report for Congress, November 2019)

What does the new US-China trade deal mean? (Live interview on Indus News)

China’s largest utility plans a national power grid integrating Internet of Things technologies (A South China Morning Post report)

Abe re-sets relations with China despite obstacle over East China Sea (Live TV panel discussion on Indus News)

China has agreed with US to cancel tariffs in phases (Live TV interview with Channel News Asia (CNA))

Is Trump using Hong Kong unrest as leverage in trade talks with China? (Quoted in RT article)

China in the 2020's

China in the 2020's - Expect Game-Changing Developments (Feature article in The Global Analyst)

The article also appears on World Geostrategic Insights

The seven trends that will define China in the 2020s (Op-ed in South China Morning Post)

Global Distrust Crisis

MEDays Forum 2019 - 13-16 November, 2019, Tangier, Morocco (Presentations (Speaking Notes) and photos)

7th International Conference on Eurasian Politics & Society on 14th–15th May 2020 in Lisbon, Portugal.

A wet and wintry autumn family break in Cadiz and environs

(A short music video capturing some special moments)

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

Consultation services

Speaking and lecturing invitations

I am also 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

RSS feed and weblinks

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

If you think that I may add value to your endeavours 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.