Li on Economic Situation - Xi & Energy Security - Cultural Development Plan - Zhong Sheng on US' Taiwan Policy - Policies to Support Childbirth - S&T Innovation Board - AUKUS Criticism
Here are the stories and pieces that I found noteworthy in the Wednesday, August 17, 2022, edition of the People’s Daily.
Page 1: At the top of the page is a brief report on Xi’s letter to his Egyptian counterpart offering condolences for the massive recent church fire.
The top story on the page, however, is from the series on Xi promoting high-quality development of enterprises. Today’s report in this regard focuses on energy security. The piece touches on the themes of energy capacity by calling for expansion of domestic production, emphasises low-carbon development, which includes transformation of the coal industry, and a focus on new and clean energy sources. In doing so, it talks about specific developments at certain enterprises. I am only touching on the big data points and themes in my summary.
Some excerpts:
“Since 2014, China’s independent energy support capacity has remained above 80%, and its comprehensive energy production capacity has been significantly enhanced. In 2021, China’s primary energy production totalled 4.33 billion tons of standard coal, an increase of 23.4% over that of 2012, and more than one-fifth of the world’s total output; domestic crude oil output has risen for three consecutive years and increased to 199 million tons, while natural gas output has increased by over 10 billion cubic metres for five consecutive years.” 2014年以来，我国能源自主保障能力始终保持在80%以上，能源综合生产能力显著增强。2021年我国一次能源生产总量43.3亿吨标准煤，比2012年增长了23.4%，超过世界总产量的1/5；国内原油产量连续3年回升、增产至1.99亿吨，天然气产量连续5年增产超百亿立方米.
The piece references this old quote from Xi: “To achieve the goals of carbon peak and neutrality, we must be resolute; but it is not possible to accomplish this task in one stroke. We must persist in seeking progress while maintaining stability and realise it gradually. We must base ourselves on national conditions, and focusing on coal is our basic national condition, and the realisation of carbon peak must be based on this reality. While doing a good job in clean and efficient utilisation of coal, we will speed up the flexible transformation of coal-fired power units, develop renewable energy, promote the optimal combination of coal and new energy, and increase the capacity of new energy consumption.” 习近平总书记指出：“实现碳达峰碳中和目标要坚定不移，但不可能毕其功于一役，要坚持稳中求进，逐步实现。要立足国情，以煤为主是我们的基本国情，实现碳达峰必须立足这个实际。在抓好煤炭清洁高效利用的同时，加快煤电机组灵活性改造，发展可再生能源，推动煤炭和新能源优化组合，增加新能源消纳能力.”
Since the 18th Party Congress, China's new energy and clean energy sectors have achieved leap-frog development. The installed capacity of hydropower, wind power, photovoltaic power generation and biomass power generation has ranked first in the world for 17 years, 12 years, 7 years and 4 years in a row, respectively. By the end of 2021, the average electricity cost of onshore wind power and photovoltaic power generation had decreased by 48% and 70%, respectively, compared with 2012, and the international competitive advantage of the industrial chain has become evident. 党的十八大以来，我国新能源和清洁能源实现跨越式发展。水电、风电、光伏发电、生物质发电装机规模分别连续17年、12年、7年和4年稳居全球首位，截至2021年底，陆上风电、光伏发电的平均度电成本分别较2012年下降48%和70%，产业链国际竞争优势凸显.
The final section of the piece talks about self-reliance and the goal of controlling the amount of carbon dioxide that is emitted, while calling for pursuing green and low-carbon development. In terms of self-reliance, the piece talks about the Deep Sea No 1 gas field. And on the latter, it discusses the world’s first 50,000 tonne per year polyglycolic acid (PGA) demonstration project, which is in Shaanxi. Basically, coal is “efficiently” processed to create PGA, which can be used to make “disposable knives and forks, plastic bags and other daily necessities” along with being used in “high-end fields such as medical surgical sutures and underground unconventional oil and gas exploration.”
The other top story on the page is the full 14th Five-Year Plan for Cultural Development. The document says that “culture is the soul of a country and nation, as well as the soul of national governance.” The plan argues that without the prosperity and development of socialist culture, there would be no socialist modernisation. The first part of the document outlines the different approaches to the concept of culture.
Entering a new stage, “we must put cultural construction in a prominent position in the overall work, and more consciously use culture to lead the fashion, educate the people, serve the society and promote development.” 进入新发展阶段，统筹推进“五位一体”总体布局、协调推进“四个全面”战略布局，文化是重要内容，必须把文化建设放在全局工作的突出位置，更加自觉地用文化引领风尚、教育人民、服务社会、推动发展.
“To implement the new development concept, construct a new development pattern, and promote high-quality development, culture is an important fulcrum. We must further develop and strengthen the cultural industry, strengthen cultural empowerment, and give full play to the role of culture in activating development momentum, improving development quality, and promoting the optimisation and upgrading of economic structure.” 贯彻新发展理念，构建新发展格局，推动高质量发展，文化是重要支点，必须进一步发展壮大文化产业，强化文化赋能，充分发挥文化在激活发展动能、提升发展品质、促进经济结构优化升级中的作用.
In addressing the changed principal contradiction in society, the plan says that “we must deepen reform of the cultural system, expand the supply of high-quality culture, and enable the people to enjoy a richer and higher-quality cultural life.” 顺应我国社会主要矛盾的历史性变化，满足人民日益增长的美好生活需要，促进人的全面发展，文化是重要因素，必须深化文化体制改革，扩大优质文化供给，让人民享有更加充实、更为丰富、更高质量的精神文化生活.
Culture is important in order to meet the new wave of scientific and technological revolution and promote changes in the quality, efficiency and driving force of development. We must accelerate the deep integration of culture and science and technology, better build an advanced socialist culture with advanced and applicable technologies, reshape the mode of cultural production and dissemination, and seize the commanding heights of cultural innovation and development. 迎接新一轮科技革命浪潮，推动发展质量变革、效率变革、动力变革，文化是重要领域，必须加快推进文化和科技深度融合，更好地以先进适用技术建设社会主义先进文化，重塑文化生产传播方式，抢占文化创新发展的制高点。
Culture is a source of strength in order to realise the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and overcome all kinds of risks and challenges on the road ahead. “We must hold high the ideological banner, strengthen value guidance and inspire the spirit of struggle, build a common spiritual home of the Chinese nation, promote culture to forge souls, and enhance the cohesion, centripetal force and creativity of the whole nation.” 实现中华民族伟大复兴，战胜前进道路上各种风险挑战，文化是重要力量源泉，必须高扬思想旗帜、强化价值引领、激发奋斗精神，建设中华民族共有精神家园，推进文化铸魂，增强全民族的凝聚力、向心力、创造力.
To cope with the profound once-in-a-century, unprecedented changes taking place in the world whose impact is interwoven with the once-in-a-century global pandemic, to resolve new contradictions, to meet new challenges, and to form new advantages in a complex international environment, culture is an important aspect of soft power; it is necessary to strengthen strategic determination, tell China's story well, and provide a lasting and profound spiritual power for promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. 应对世界百年未有之大变局和新冠肺炎疫情全球大流行交织影响，在错综复杂国际环境中化解新矛盾、迎接新挑战、形成新优势，文化是重要软实力，必须增强战略定力、讲好中国故事，为推动构建人类命运共同体提供持久而深厚的精神动力。
The final point says that in order to “carry out great struggles, build great projects, advance great undertakings, and realise great dreams, we should strengthen our cultural self-confidence, consciously shoulder a new cultural mission, create culture through practice, achieve cultural progress through historical progress, and provide ideological guarantee, public opinion support, spiritual motivation, and cultural conditions for building a comprehensively modern socialist country.” 走好新的赶考之路，进行伟大斗争、建设伟大工程、推进伟大事业、实现伟大梦想，我们要更加坚定文化自信，自觉肩负起新的文化使命，在实践创造中进行文化创造，在历史进步中实现文化进步，为全面建设社会主义现代化国家提供思想保证、舆论支持、精神动力和文化条件。
The second part comprises guiding ideology, working principles and objectives and tasks. The working principles are:
Uphold the overall leadership of the Party: “implement the principles of the Party’s control over propaganda, ideology and media, and implement the party's leadership in all aspects of propaganda and ideological and cultural work”
Adhere to the supremacy of the people: “combine propaganda, education, guidance and service to the masses, encourage people to participate in cultural innovation and creation, and participate in national cultural governance according to law, so that cultural development serves the people, relies on the people, and its fruits are shared by the people, and promotes the unity of meeting people's cultural needs and strengthening people's spiritual strength.”
Adhere to the new development concept: “improve the ecology of cultural development, transform the mode of cultural development, restructure the pattern of cultural development, and achieve higher quality, more efficient, fairer, more sustainable and safer development.”
Adhere to the principle of consolidating the foundation, strengthening the foundation and innovating: “Adhere to the socialist cultural development path with Chinese characteristics, adhere to the socialist core value system, unswervingly deepen the reform of the cultural system, promote cultural opening to the outside world in an orderly manner, enhance the driving force of cultural development, stimulate the vitality of cultural development, develop advanced socialist culture, inherit revolutionary culture, and inherit and carry forward Chinese excellent traditional culture.”
Persist in giving priority to social benefits and integrate social and economic benefits: “Grasp the characteristics and laws of cultural construction under the conditions of the socialist market economy, correctly handle the relationship between the ideological and industrial attributes of culture, social and economic benefits, promote a better combination of markets and government, and highlight and expand mainstream values, mainstream public opinion and mainstream culture.”
Adhere to overall planning and comprehensive advancement: This talks about developing a systems concept in order to coordinate development and security, theory and public opinion, culture and civilisation, internal propaganda and external propaganda, online and offline, domestic and international, business and industry, state-owned and private sector, etc.
——坚持党的全面领导。坚持和完善党领导文化发展的体制机制，贯彻落实党管宣传、党管意识形态、党管媒体原则，把党的领导落实到宣传思想文化工作方方面面，为实现文化高质量发展提供根本保证。——坚持人民至上。以人民为中心，尊重人民主体地位，保障人民文化权益，把宣传、教育、引导和服务群众结合起来，鼓励人民参与文化创新创造、依法参与国家文化治理，做到文化发展为了人民、依靠人民、成果由人民共享，促进满足人民文化需求和增强人民精神力量相统一。——坚持新发展理念。把新发展理念贯穿文化发展全过程和各领域，优化文化发展生态，转变文化发展方式，重构文化发展格局，实现更高质量、更有效率、更加公平、更可持续、更为安全的发展。——坚持固本培元、守正创新。坚持中国特色社会主义文化发展道路，坚持社会主义核心价值体系，坚定不移深化文化体制改革，有序推进文化对外开放，增强文化发展动力，激发文化发展活力，发展社会主义先进文化，继承革命文化，传承和弘扬中华优秀传统文化。——坚持把社会效益放在首位、社会效益和经济效益相统一。把握社会主义市场经济条件下文化建设的特点和规律，正确处理文化的意识形态属性和产业属性、社会效益和经济效益之间的关系，推动有效市场和有为政府更好结合，彰显和壮大主流价值、主流舆论、主流文化。——坚持统筹兼顾、全面推进。牢固树立系统观念，统筹发展和安全，统筹理论与舆论、文化与文明、内宣与外宣、网上与网下，统筹国内与国际、事业与产业、国有与民营、阵地与市场，促进系统集成、协同高效，实现文化发展质量、结构、规模、速度、效益、安全相统一。
Objectives and tasks to be achieved:
Enhanced ideological consciousness and theoretical self-confidence of the whole party and the whole society, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is shining brighter with truth, the people are more active in spirit, and the spiritual strength for China’s development and progress in the new era is more abundant. 全党全社会的思想自觉和理论自信进一步增强，习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想绽放出更加绚丽的真理光芒，人民在精神上更加主动，新时代中国发展进步的精神动力更加充沛.
Core values of socialism have been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, the Chinese nation's feelings of home and country have deepened, its cohesion has been further strengthened, and people's ideological and moral quality, scientific and cultural quality, and physical and mental health quality have been significantly improved. 社会文明程度得到新提高，社会主义核心价值观深入人心，中华民族的家国情怀更加深厚、凝聚力进一步增强，人民思想道德素质、科学文化素质和身心健康素质明显提高.
Cultural undertakings and industries have become more prosperous… the cultural development in urban and rural areas has become more balanced and coordinated…
The influence of Chinese culture has been further enhanced, cultural exchanges and dialogue between Chinese and foreign civilisations have deepened, China's image has become more credible, loveable and respectable and the cultural foundation for promoting the building of a Community of Shared Future for Mankind has become more solid. 中华文化影响力进一步提升，中外文化交流和文明对话更加深入，中国形象更加可信、可爱、可敬，推动构建人类命运共同体的人文基础更加坚实.
The socialist cultural system with Chinese characteristics is more perfect, the cultural laws and regulations system and policy system are more perfect, and the efficiency of cultural governance is further improved.中国特色社会主义文化制度更加完善，文化法律法规体系和政策体系更加健全，文化治理效能进一步提升。
The third section of the document talks about the importance of ideological and theoretical arming. This obviously relates to Xi Jinping’s thought, which must be publicised and propagated since it is Chinese Marxism and 21st century Marxism. Doing this, the document tells us, is also “a long-term major political task.”
What I found interesting about this was the call to carry out publicity and education on socialism with Chinese characteristics and the China Dream, along with the requirement of supervision and inspection of theoretical learning work within party committees. 持续开展中国特色社会主义和中国梦宣传教育。完善党委（党组）理论学习中心组等各层级学习制度，组织开展列席旁听和督促检查。持续开展党员大规模轮训。It also talks about using different media and tools for propaganda and developing ideology and politics courses, taking Xi’s thought into “teaching materials, classrooms, and students' minds.”
In this regard, this section also calls for incorporating Xi’s thought into all fields and disciplines of philosophy and social sciences and accelerating the construction of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics.
Section 4 talks about strengthening ideological and moral construction in the new era and the creation of mass spiritual civilisation. 加强新时代思想道德建设和群众性精神文明创建. This entails:
Patriotic education and citizens’ morality cultivation; previous guidelines in regard to these are referenced in the document.
Emphasis on core socialist values: “Adhere to the combination of integration and implementation, and integrate the requirements of socialist core values into daily life and the rule of law.” This includes “the institutionalisation of the education of ideals and beliefs”; using “revolutionary historical memorial facilities, sites and patriotic education bases” in order to “strengthen patriotism, collectivism and socialist education”; strengthening propaganda and education on “reunification” and one country, two systems.
Strengthening social morality, professional ethics, family values and personal morality.
Strengthening ideological and political development in universities and primary and secondary schools.
promote the continuous deepening of civilisation cultivation, civilisation practice and civilisation creation…carry out creative activities to promote cultural and ethical progress in civilised cities, towns and villages, work units, families, campuses, and advanced ideological and moral development for minors, and expand the building of centres for civilised practice in the new era. 创造性开展文明城市、文明村镇、文明单位、文明家庭、文明校园和未成年人思想道德建设工作先进等精神文明创建活动，拓展新时代文明实践中心建设.
Section 5 talks about strengthening mainstream public opinion. This entails adhering to the correct political orientation and the Marxist view of journalism, stimulating positive energy, developing mainstream media, and enhancing the communication, guidance, influence and credibility of news and public opinion. In terms of correct political orientation, the key point made is about propaganda around Xi’s thought, with the aim of “strengthening confidence, gathering people’s hearts and building unity.” 突出做好习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的新闻宣传，精心组织主题宣传、形势宣传、成就宣传、典型宣传，更好强信心、聚民心、暖人心、筑同心.
In this section, we are also told that it is critical to implement the principle of the Party’s management of media in the new media domain, insisting on positive energy is the general requirement, managing it well is the last word/paramount principle, and using it well is the real skill. 把党管媒体原则贯彻到新媒体领域，坚持正能量是总要求、管得住是硬道理、用得好是真本事.
The 6th section is about cultural and literary creations. Apart from the values bit, this also talks about the economics of the cultural industry. In this regard, it talks about strengthening copyright protection. The 7th section talks about inheriting traditional Chinese culture and revolutionary culture. In this regard, it talks about the study of revolutionary historical materials and cultural relics, strengthening media dissemination of Chinese civilisation and archeological findings, improving the exhibition and education level of museums, memorial halls, etc, and the promotion of cultural parks, etc. Sections 8, 9, 10 and 11 deal with improving coverage and effectiveness of public cultural services, the high-quality development of the cultural industry, promoting integrated development of culture and tourism and coordinated urban and rural development.
Section 12 deals with expanding the international influence of Chinese culture. This says:
“Promote external propaganda, foreign cultural exchanges and cultural trade as a whole, enhance the influence of international communication, the appeal of Chinese culture, affinity with regard to the Chinese image, the persuasiveness of Chinese discourse, and the guidance of international public opinion, promote people-to-people bonds, and build a cultural community.” 统筹推进对外宣传、对外文化交流和文化贸易，增强国际传播影响力、中华文化感召力、中国形象亲和力、中国话语说服力、国际舆论引导力，促进民心相通，构建人文共同体. Essentially, this is about shaping international public opinion.
In this context, the document mentions dialogues between civilisations, BRI and tourism. It also mentions developing “cultural enterprises with international competitiveness” and improving “the scale and quality of investment cooperation in overseas cultural fields.” Towards the end, there are a couple of more sections that deal with cultivating cultural talents, building the system and implementation and financing.
Moving on, there’s a story about Li Keqiang’s remarks at a symposium on the economic situation during his visit to Shenzhen. This is the first that we are hearing from a PSC member in a while. The report informs that Guangdong Secretary Li Xi and governors from Guangdong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shandong, Henan and spoke at the meeting.
The report says that:
“Li Keqiang said that under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, all localities and departments have implemented the deployment of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council to effectively cope with the unexpected impact on the economy in the second quarter. In June, the negative growth of major economic indicators in the first two months was reversed, and the economy stabilised and rebounded. In July, the economy continued to recover and develop, but there were still slight fluctuations…at present, we are at a crucial juncture for economic recovery, and must work with a sense of urgency to consolidate the momentum for economic recovery and development. Under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, we must fully implement the new development concept, efficiently coordinate epidemic prevention and control and economic and social development, and implement the requirements that the epidemic must be prevented, the economy must be stabilised, and development must be safe. We must give full play to the enthusiasm of the central and local governments, insist that development is the basis and key to solving all problems in our country, thoroughly implement the package of policies to stabilise the economy, rationally increase macroeconomic policies in response to the new situation, advance reform and opening up, focus on stabilising employment and prices, keep the economy running in a reasonable range and solidly guarantee the basic livelihood of the people.” 李克强说，在以习近平同志为核心的党中央坚强领导下，各地各部门落实党中央、国务院部署，有力应对二季度经济遇到的超预期冲击，6月份扭转了前两个月主要经济指标负增长的局面，经济运行企稳回升。7月份经济延续恢复发展态势，但仍有小幅波动。势要起而不可落。当前正处于经济回稳最吃劲的节点，必须以时不我待的紧迫感，巩固经济恢复发展基础。要以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，全面贯彻新发展理念，高效统筹疫情防控和经济社会发展，落实疫情要防住、经济要稳住、发展要安全的要求。要发挥中央和地方两个积极性，坚持发展是解决我国一切问题的基础和关键，深入实施稳经济一揽子政策，针对新情况合理加大宏观政策力度，推进改革开放，着力稳就业稳物价，保持经济运行在合理区间，扎实保障基本民生。
Xinhua English has a decent summary of the next three paragraphs::
“The six provinces contribute to 45 percent of the country's total economic output, Li said, calling the provinces the pillars of the country's economic development while urging them to take a key role in stabilizing economic growth. Li urged the economic powerhouses to ensure solid implementation of a package of pro-growth policies while leveraging policies to energize market entities, smooth logistics, and stabilize industrial and supply chains. The local governments should tighten their belts, put existing assets to better use, maintain a balance between revenue and expenditure, and guarantee fiscal spending in ensuring people's livelihoods, Li said.”
“Li urged efforts to ensure the stability of market entities in order to stabilize the economy and employment. Noting that the six provinces boast over 40 percent of China's market entities, which offer more than 40 percent of the country's job opportunities, he stressed work to step up support for enterprises to tide over difficulties and resume vitality. (In addition, he called for supporting enterprises to “continue to remain holding the ‘leading role’ in absorbing employment” as they strive to stabilise the employment of local and migrant workers.) Measures should be taken to promote consumption in these provinces, each with a large population, Li said, urging the boosting of big-ticket consumption, including auto consumption, while satisfying rigid housing demand and the demand for housing improvement. Li also called for ramping up financial support for localities with more qualified projects through special local government debts and policy-based and developmental financial instruments. He urged localities to accelerate the construction of mature projects to increase effective investment and related consumption.”
Li also spoke about foreign trade, calling on the six provinces to promote opening-up at a higher level and stabilise foreign trade and investment.
Finally, a report with data from SAMR, which informs that as of the end of June, there were 161 million registered market entities nationwide, an increase of 4.4% compared with the end of 2021. Among them, there were 50.389 million enterprises, up by 4.1%, and there were 107.941 million individual industrial and commercial households, up by 4.6%.
Page 2: There’s a report on the new action plan to boost enterprise innovation. Xinhua English’s report on this says:
“Jointly issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Finance, the 2022-2023 action plan specifies supportive measures in 10 areas, including establishing a mechanism for enterprises to participate in the country's sci-tech innovation decision-making on a regular basis. The document pledges to implement tax incentives to support enterprises in frontier basic research. It also calls for financial support, such as venture capital, for enterprise innovation and greater enterprise access to sci-tech resources and application scenarios. To facilitate international cooperation, the document highlights the support to enterprises in building overseas sci-tech innovation centers, and offshore innovation and entrepreneurship centers. Foreign-funded R&D institutions are encouraged to participate in government sci-tech projects, according to the action plan.”
By the end of September 2022, all departments and localities should formulate work plans for implementing the action plan.
Next, there’s a report on the press conference celebrating 10 years of development of China’s political party system. Chen Xu, deputy head of the United Front Work Department, spoke at the presser. Xinhua English reports:
“A new model grown out of the soil of China, China's political party system has shown strengths in multiple aspects, said Chen.”
“Adhering to and improving the system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC have been made part of the basic strategy of the Party, according to the official. The framework of the system has been increasingly more sound and extensive with new regulations and policies adopted over the past decade, while the political consensus of the system has become increasingly firm and the system has played a more efficacious role in state governance, Chen said. In addition to the CPC, there are eight other political parties in China's political party system. Prominent individuals without affiliation to any of the political parties are also included in the system. Following the principles of long-term coexistence, mutual oversight, sincerity, and sharing the rough times and the smooth, the parties have jointly created a multiparty cooperation system in which the CPC exercises state power and the other parties participate fully in the administration of state affairs under the leadership of the CPC.”
Page 3: The second commentary in the Zhong Sheng series on Taiwan argues that the US has “maliciously changed the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.” It says that the US has committed to maintain only “unofficial relations with Taiwan,” and Nancy Pelosi’s visit was “by no means an unofficial” engagement. “Pelosi herself even blatantly issued a statement, claiming that it was an ‘official visit’.” She has “publicly called China's Taiwan Province region a ‘country’ more than once. Pelosi's wrong actions show the world that she is deliberately changing the status quo in the Taiwan Strait!” 佩洛西窜台本身就是在蓄意破坏台海和平稳定。在中美建交公报中，白纸黑字记录着美方仅与台湾保持非官方关系的承诺。佩洛西作为美国政府的第三号人物，不顾中方强烈反对和严正交涉窜访中国台湾地区，绝不是什么非官方行为。佩洛西本人更是明目张胆地发表声明，声称其是“官方访问”，公然违背中美建交公报。佩洛西还不止一次公开妄称中国台湾地区为“国家”。佩洛西种种错误行径，向世人展示了正是佩洛西在蓄意改变台海现状！
The article accuses the US of violating the commitments made in the three Sino-US joint communiqués and hollowing out and distorting the one-China principle. 事实是，美方违背在中美三个联合公报中所作的承诺，在虚化、掏空、歪曲一个中国原则的道路上越走越远. In this regard, the piece specifically mentions the April 2021 New Guidelines for U.S. Government Interactions with Taiwan Counterparts.
It adds that the US has violated the 1982 communique in which it promised that “it intends gradually to reduce its sale of arms to Taiwan, leading, over a period of time, to a final resolution.” It says that arms sales to Taiwan have continuously increased, totalling more than $70 billion to date, with the current administration sanctioning some $1.1 billion worth of arms. The article says that “while the US says that it has no intention of implementing a ‘two Chinas’ or ‘one China, one Taiwan’ policy, it has openly helped Taiwan expand its so-called ‘international space’.” 美方还违背有关“逐步减少对台售武、并经过一段时间导致最后解决”的承诺，售台武器的规模和性能不断提升，迄今总额超过700亿美元，仅现政府任内就已达11亿多美元。美方承诺“无意执行‘两个中国’或‘一中一台’”，却公然助台拓展所谓“国际空间”.
Then the author criticises the recent G7 statement on Taiwan, saying that while the parties reiterated that their respective one-China policy and basic stance on Taiwan had not changed, there was a caveat of “where applicable” added to one-China policy. “This is another piece of ironclad evidence that the US is trying to change the status quo across the Taiwan Strait.” 美国还伙同个别国家发表所谓声明，在重申各自的一个中国政策和对台湾的基本立场没有改变的同时，在“一个中国政策”后面加括号标注“在适用的情形下”，这是美方试图改变台海现状的又一铁证.
Amid all this, the author argues that China “has no choice but to take countermeasures to safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.” The article adds that “China’s measures were firm, forceful and appropriate, and its military exercises have been open, transparent and professional, in line with domestic laws, international laws and international practices. They are not only a solemn deterrent for troublemakers and provocateurs, but also a powerful punishment for ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces and forces engaged in external interference, and are an effective maintenance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. This is the due responsibility of a truly responsible major power. The US side’s slander of China’s legitimate, reasonable and lawful counter-measures just exposes its real attempt to undermine the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.” 面对美方改变台海现状的挑衅行径和美台加紧勾连的破坏举动，中方不得不采取捍卫国家主权和领土完整的反制措施。中方一系列反制措施坚定、有力、适度，军事演训公开、透明、专业，符合国内法、国际法和国际惯例，既是对肇事分子和挑衅者的严正震慑、对“台独”分裂势力和外部干涉势力的有力惩戒，也是对台海和平稳定的有效维护，这是一个真正负责任大国应有的担当。美方污蔑中方正当、合理、合法的反制措施，恰恰暴露出其破坏台海现状的真实企图. — Quick thought: This seems more like it is aimed at mollifying domestic critics by arguing that the Chinese response was sufficient and also in keeping in line with its responsibilities as a major country.
The article ends by calling on the US to live up to its commitments.
Also on the page is a long piece on Chinese enterprises' engagement in wind, solar and hydropower projects in Africa.
Page 5: There’s a report with comments from the Taiwan Affairs Office’s spokesperson talking about the sanctions on “Taiwan independence diehards.” I covered this yesterday.
Page 6: A report informing that 17 departments including the National Health Commission and the National Development and Reform Commission have jointly issued a guideline on new measures to encourage childbirth and support parents. Xinhua reports: “The supporting measures include better maternal care services and public-benefit childcare services, improved maternity and parental leave policies, preferential policies on housing and taxation, and the fostering of fertility-friendly workplaces.”
If you are interested, Global Times has a detailed report discussing the guideline and the challenges.
Page 10: There’s a report on the utility and gains of China’s Science and Technology Innovation Board, which is part of the Shanghai Stock Exchange. The piece says that over the period of three years, as of July 22, there were 439 listed companies on the Science and Technology Innovation Board, with a total initial public offering (IPO) financing of 640 billion yuan and a total market value of 5.5 trillion yuan, accounting for 34% of the number of newly listed A-share companies and 41% of IPO financing respectively. 已满3岁的科创板发展取得显著成绩。根据上海证券交易所数据，截至7月22日，科创板共有上市公司439家，首次公开募股（IPO）融资总金额6400亿元，总市值为5.5万亿元，分别占同期A股新上市公司数量的34%和IPO融资额的41%.
The piece broadly makes the point that the board has allowed for greater funding to go in the direction of ‘hard technology’ enterprises and experimental work. As of June 2022, the Science and Technology Innovation Board had listed 147 new generation IT companies, 97 high-end equipment companies, 93 biomedical companies, 39 new material companies, 31 energy-saving and environmental protection companies and 24 new energy companies. 截至今年6月底，科创板共上市147家新一代信息技术公司、97家高端装备公司、93家生物医药公司、39家新材料公司、31家节能环保公司和24家新能源公司.
Each company listed on the board owns 108 invention patents on average; in 2021, listed companies added more than 7,800 invention patents. From the perspective of R&D intensity, from 2019 to 2021, the R&D investment of companies listed on the board totalled 214.4 billion yuan. 从创新成果看，科创板平均每家公司拥有发明专利108项，2021年科创板公司合计新增发明专利7800余项。从研发强度看，2019年—2021年，科创板公司研发投入共计2144亿元. It also says that there has been rapid growth in the profitability of the companies listed on the board.
Page 16: Two pieces to note. First, the top story focuses on criticism and concern around the AUKUS agreement at the NPT review conference. The piece says that the US, UK and Australia had submitted a working paper on AUKUS. It says that the paper led to “widespread criticism from the international community. Many countries have said that the cooperation of nuclear submarines between the United States, Britain and Australia obviously violates the purpose of the NPT, and presents a serious risk of nuclear proliferation, threatening regional and global security and stability. The three countries should revoke their wrong decisions…” 日前，《不扩散核武器条约》第十次审议大会在纽约联合国总部举行。美国、英国、澳大利亚三国向大会提交“三边安全伙伴关系”的工作文件，试图为自身开展核潜艇合作辩护，引发国际社会广泛批评。多国人士纷纷表示，美英澳核潜艇合作明显违反《不扩散核武器条约》目的和宗旨，具有严重核扩散风险，威胁地区和全球安全与稳定。三国应撤销错误决定，以实际行动回应国际社会关切，全面有效遵守国际核不扩散义务.
The other is an article by Fu Zhu 傅铸 on Pelosi’s Taiwan visit. I don’t think there’s any new argument being made in the piece.