June 4th, Wednesday, welcome to “News Insight” breaking news. In this episode, we have senior researcher Song Guo Cheng from the International Relations Research Center of Political University as our deciphering news guest, and the host is Zhang Dongxu.
Today’s focus is on the surprising revelation that the tools we are using on social media platforms may be linked to the Chinese Communist Party’s agenda. Did the popular app “Xiaohongshu” (Little Red Book) have a hidden agenda to influence Taiwan? Are Chinese scholars plotting “food terrorism” strategies? The US Secretary of Defense highlights Taiwan. Harvard caught up in a massive propaganda storm. Did the US-China trade negotiations collapse? The looming rare earth trade war.
On the 36th anniversary of June 4th in Taipei, Taiwan, people from all walks of life mourned and condemned the Chinese Communist Party. The US Department of Justice announced the arrest of a Chinese Communist Party member and scholar for smuggling potentially dangerous agricultural pathogens, considered as “agricultural terrorism weapons,” into the US.
Just when the US-China trade war 1.0 agreement was signed, COVID-19 (Chinese virus) spread globally. As trade war 2.0 looms, rumors of pathogen smuggling emerge, causing unsettling worries. What lies ahead in the US-China trade war?
The US Secretary of Defense’s remarks on defending Taiwan, how will it impact the security structure in the Indo-Pacific region? Chinese scholars insinuate that the “Xiaohongshu” app could aid in the Communist Party’s supposed “governance” of Taiwan. Reports of unidentified individuals filming students, citizens, and public facilities in Taiwan, with many videos surfacing on Xiaohongshu, raise security concerns.
Waking up on the anniversary of June 4th, revelations emerged from the US Department of Justice on the 3rd, implicating Chinese scholar Yunqing Jian from the University of Michigan of attempting to smuggle a biological pathogen perceived as a potential “agricultural terrorism weapon” into the US. The pathogen known as “stem rust” could be used to attack crop yields.
How does Professor Song Guo Cheng perceive these events?
Shortly before the 36th anniversary of June 4th, the Trump administration announced strict scrutiny on student visas, particularly those associated with the Chinese Communist Party. Harvard University remains embroiled in controversy. During the graduation ceremony on May 29th, a speech by a Chinese student faced criticism for allegedly containing Communist propaganda, sparking debates and drawing criticism from Chinese netizens for being two-faced.
The Wall Street Journal quoted observers labeling Harvard University as a “party school”; Chinese state media even dubbed Harvard University’s Kennedy School as the “overseas party school” leader in 2014.
How does Professor Song Guo Cheng view this situation?
Many countries remain wary of apps controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, such as TikTok, Xiaohongshu, referred to as “digital fentanyl.” Recently, a Chinese scholar within the Party system claimed that “Taiwan won’t have another election (2028)” and emphasized the popularity of the Xiaohongshu app, suggesting it could make Communist governance of Taiwan even easier than Hong Kong.
The Taiwanese government expresses high suspicion towards Xiaohongshu potentially being a tool for united front work and deems it necessary to regulate its management. Reports of Chinese spouses or individuals capturing footage of elementary students at school entrances in various parts of Taiwan, with the footage spreading, have stirred anxiety among netizens on Xiaohongshu.
How does Professor Song Guo Cheng view this situation?
During the Shangri-La Dialogue speech on May 30th, the US Secretary of Defense mentioned Taiwan five times, referring to “Communist China,” highlighting the Communist Party’s apparent preparedness to use force to change the power balance in the Indo-Pacific region. Any attempt by the Communist Party to conquer Taiwan by force would have catastrophic consequences for the Indo-Pacific region and the world.
What does Professor Song Guo Cheng think about the implications of the US’s recent speech?
On May 30th, President Trump criticized the Chinese Communist Party for violating the initial trade agreement, with China retaliating. The White House confirmed that Trump may have a phone call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping later this week. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded on the 3rd saying they had no information to provide. Could Professor Song Guo Cheng provide insights into the ongoing negotiations between the US and China post the initial trade deal and discuss observations on the current situation?
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