The Chinese government's addition of a column on its official website sparks discontent in Taiwan. Microsoft researchers uncover cyberattacks by Iran targeting US officials. Afghan athlete disqualified from Olympics for political statement. Stay informed about these significant developments and their potential implications on international relations.
Sources:
https://www.voachinese.com/a/china-official-website-adding-sepcial-column-to-punish-diehard-taiwan-independence-advocates-causing-uproar-in-taiwan-20240808/7735370.html
https://www.rfi.fr/cn/%E4%B8%AD%E4%B8%9C/20240809-%E5%BE%AE%E8%BD%AF%E7%A0%94%E7%A9%B6-%E7%BE%8E%E5%9B%BD%E5%A4%A7%E9%80%89%E5%89%8D-%E4%BC%8A%E6%9C%97%E9%AA%87%E5%AE%A2%E8%BF%9B%E6%94%BB%E7%BE%8E%E9%AB%98%E5%AE%98%E5%B8%90%E5%8F%B7
https://finance.sina.cn/hkstock/ggyw/2024-08-10/detail-incicnci6670392.d.html
https://news.ifeng.com/c/8bvVstqba6W
Outline:
(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:00:48) The Chinese government's official website has added a column of "punishing 'Taiwan independence' stubborn molecules" and reporting emails caused dissatisfaction in Taiwan.
(00:03:06) Microsoft Research: Iran hacked U.S. hackers' attacks on US senior officials before the US election
(00:05:20) Former US Treasury Secretary Samers: It is unreasonable to be affected by political intervention in emergencies.
(00:07:37) Free Afghan Women! She was disqualified from the Olympic participation for political remarks
Simply Politics, from China
Chinese Government’s Controversial Move, Iran’s Cyberattacks on US Officials, Afghan Athlete Disqualified for Political Statement
The Chinese government's addition of a column on its official website sparks discontent in Taiwan. Microsoft researchers uncover cyberattacks by Iran targeting US officials. Afghan athlete disqualified from Olympics for political statement. Stay informed about these significant developments and their potential implications on international relations.Sources:https://www.voachinese.com/a/china-official-website-adding-sepcial-column-to-punish-diehard-taiwan-independence-advocates-causing-uproar-in-taiwan-20240808/7735370.htmlhttps://www.rfi.fr/cn/%E4%B8%AD%E4%B8%9C/20240809-%E5%BE%AE%E8%BD%AF%E7%A0%94%E7%A9%B6-%E7%BE%8E%E5%9B%BD%E5%A4%A7%E9%80%89%E5%89%8D-%E4%BC%8A%E6%9C%97%E9%AA%87%E5%AE%A2%E8%BF%9B%E6%94%BB%E7%BE%8E%E9%AB%98%E5%AE%98%E5%B8%90%E5%8F%B7https://finance.sina.cn/hkstock/ggyw/2024-08-10/detail-incicnci6670392.d.htmlhttps://news.ifeng.com/c/8bvVstqba6WOutline:(00:00:00) Introduction(00:00:48) The Chinese government's official website has added a column of "punishing 'Taiwan independence' stubborn molecules" and reporting emails caused dissatisfaction in Taiwan.(00:03:06) Microsoft Research: Iran hacked U.S. hackers' attacks on US senior officials before the US election(00:05:20) Former US Treasury Secretary Samers: It is unreasonable to be affected by political intervention in emergencies.(00:07:37) Free Afghan Women! She was disqualified from the Olympic participation for political remarks
- Duration:
- 9m
- Broadcast on:
- 10 Aug 2024
- Audio Format:
- mp3
Good morning, and welcome to Simply Politics from China. It's Saturday, August 10th. On today's show, the Chinese government's official website adds a column on punishing Taiwan independence molecules, while Microsoft Research reveals Iran's hacking of U.S. hackers' attacks on senior officials before the U.S. election. Plus, former U.S. Treasury Secretary Sammers criticizes the unreasonable impact of political intervention in emergencies. This coverage, and more, up next. I'm David, and you're listening to Simply Politics from China. I apologize for the confusion, but it appears that the closing sentence provided is incomplete. Could you please provide the full closing sentence, so that I can assist in creating a smooth transition to the opening sentence about the new section on the Chinese government's official website targeting Taiwan independence stubborn elements? Certainly, David, this move comes after Beijing released the 22 opinions on punishing Taiwan independence stubborn elements on June 21st. The new section on the official websites of the Taiwan Work Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council lists a roster of stubborn Taiwan independence elements and provides a reporting email address. Who are the individuals listed in this new section? The webpage lists a total of 10 people as Taiwan independence stubborn elements on the list, nine of whom are former or current government officials, legislators, or important cadres of the Democratic Progressive Party, including Suu Tseng Chang, Yu Sikun, Joseph Wu, Xiaobie Hyeong, Kai Chi Chang, Kei Jan Ming, Lin Fei Fan, and Wang Ding Yu. The other person, Chen Xiaohua, is a former legislator of the new power party. And how has Taiwan responded to this move? Both the ruling and opposition parties in Taiwan have expressed dissatisfaction with this move, stating that it is not conducive to cross-strade exchanges between Taiwan and mainland China. They believe that such actions could further strain the already tense relations between the two regions. What about the US government? Have they commented on this matter? The US government has not directly commented on this matter, but reiterated that Washington's one China policy remains unchanged. This policy acknowledges Beijing's claim over Taiwan, but does not explicitly recognize Taiwan as part of China. What does Beijing have to say about this? Beijing authorities have stated that the establishment of this section only targets a small number of Taiwan independent stubborn elements and does not involve the vast majority of Taiwanese people. They believe that this move is in line with their policy of maintaining the one China principle. Thanks for the report, Celeste. Shifting gears now to another political story, Microsoft researchers reported on Friday that hackers believed to be linked with the Iranian government attempted to hack into the account of a high-ranking official in a US presidential campaign in June. They also reportedly hacked into the account of a US county official a few weeks ago. These activities are suspected to be part of a broader effort by Iranian groups to gather intelligence on US political campaigns and target swing states. Iranian officials at the United Nations have denied these allegations. Here to discuss this further is Bella, a correspondent for Simply Politics from China. Can you tell us more about this development? Yes, David. The Microsoft researchers have identified that these hacking attempts are part of a broader effort by Iranian groups to gather intelligence on US political campaigns. The hackers reportedly targeted a high-ranking official in a US presidential campaign in June and a US county official a few weeks ago. What is the significance of these hacking attempts? These hacking attempts, if successful, could potentially provide the hackers with valuable intelligence on US political campaigns. This could be used to influence the outcome of the elections, particularly in swing states where the vote could go either way. It's a serious concern for US national security. And how have Iranian officials responded to these allegations? Iranian officials at the United Nations have denied these allegations. It's not uncommon for nations accused of cyber espionage to deny involvement and it can be difficult to definitively prove such allegations due to the nature of cyber attacks. What measures are being taken to prevent such hacking attempts in the future? Microsoft and other tech companies are continuously working to improve their security measures to prevent such attacks. They are also working closely with government agencies to share information about potential threats and develop strategies to counter them. However, as cyber threats continue to evolve, it remains a constant challenge to stay ahead of the hackers. Thanks for that report from China, Bella. Shifting our focus to the US, former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers has warned against the influence of any president in the formulation of US monetary policy. He believes that such interference would ultimately harm the economy. This comes in response to US Republican presidential candidate Trump's statement that he believes the president should have some say in the Fed's policymaking. Here to discuss this further is James, a correspondent for Simply Politics, from China. Can you tell us more about Summers' stance? Certainly, David. Summers has expressed strong opposition to the idea of political interference in monetary policy. He argues that involving politicians in these decisions is a foolish game that would ultimately lead to higher inflation and a weaker economy. He was particularly critical of Trump's assertion that policymaking is an intuition, stating that the president knows far less about the economy than Fed policymakers. Why does Summers believe that political interference would lead to higher inflation and a weaker economy? Summers argues that politicians have deep conflicts of interest when it comes to monetary policy. He says that government officials tend to want to print more money, lower interest rates, and boost the economy, which can raise inflation expectations and push up long-term interest rates. This, he says, exacerbates inflation without substantively increasing output. Has there been any historical precedent for this? Yes, Summers cites the example of former U.S. President Nixon, who in the early 1970s pushed then-fed chairman Arthur Burns to ease monetary policy, triggering a costly inflationary boom bust cycle. He also mentioned numerous examples in Latin America, where economies have shifted to independent central banks to curb inflation. What is Summers' view on the current calls for the Fed to cut rates? Summers believes that given the current market conditions, any emergency rate cut would not make sense and could even be counterproductive. However, he does suggest that a 50 basis point rate cut may be appropriate at the September policy meeting. Thanks, James, for your reporting on China's political landscape. Shifting gears to the Paris Olympics, refugee athlete Manija Talash was disqualified from the break-dancing competition for displaying a political slogan on her clothing. The Afghan competitor, representing refugees as B-girl Talash, wore a cape printed with free Afghan women during the preliminary round against a Dutch athlete. Talash lost the match and was later disqualified because political statements and slogans are prohibited at the Olympic venue. Here to discuss this further is Michael, a correspondent for Simply Politics from China. Can you tell us more about this incident? Well, certainly, David, despite her disqualification, Talash's message has been seen by the world. She told reporters, "I wanted to show people what is possible." The 21-year-old Talash grew up in Kabul and is considered the first female break-dancer in Afghanistan. After the Taliban regained power in 2021, Talash fled Afghanistan with her then 12-year-old brother. She obtained refugee status in Spain after staying in Pakistan for a year. What can you tell us about the conditions for women in Afghanistan under Taliban rule? Under Taliban rule, restrictions on women in Afghanistan are very strict. A United Nations report in June 2023 stated that girls and women are deprived of the right to education beyond primary school, banned from working outside the home in most sectors, prohibited from accessing public baths, parks, and gyms, and also barred from moving freely throughout the country. Talash told the BBC that she competed for "my friends and their dreams and hopes." What is the Olympic Refugee Team? The Olympic Refugee Team was established in 2015 and made its debut at the 2016 Rio Olympics. This year's team includes 36 athletes from 11 countries, five of whom are from Afghanistan. The team provides a platform for athletes who have been forced to flee their home countries to compete at the highest level. Thanks for those insights, Michael. And with that, we wrap up our stories for today. Thanks for listening to Simply Politics from China. We'll see you back here tomorrow. [MUSIC] [BLANK_AUDIO]