1 - 31 March, 2020

• China pledges stronger macro policies to offset economic impact of COVID-19
  A package of macro policies and measures will be introduced, the meeting noted, and China will appropriately raise the fiscal deficit ratio, issue special treasury bonds, increase the scale of special bonds for local governments, and guide the interest rate to decline in the loan market. (People’s Daily, China, March 31, 2020)
• Plans for trimmer, faster US Marines in Pacific ‘a threat’ to China
  10-year plan to tailor military options for conflict with PLA in Pacific island chains inspired by rising China, says top Marine. Analysts say disputed islands and reefs in East and South China seas part of US consideration in new strategy. (South China Morning Post, China, March 28, 2020) Coronavirus is not an excuse to bury globalisation, but a chance to make it better The coronavirus pandemic has exposed problems with globalisation, but it should not be an excuse to bury globalisation, says economist Jack Gao. The outbreak should serve as an awakening to a world economy that has put priority on economic integration over public health, environment and climate concerns. (South China Morning Post, China, March 28, 2020)
• Taiwan military is prepared for any Chinese attack, says defence minister
  Chang Guan-chung tells legislators that any attempt to attack the island during the current coronavirus outbreak would be ‘condemned worldwide’. PLA warplanes have approached Taiwan on a number of occasions during the past two months. (South China Morning Post, China, March 31, 2020)
• For the US and China, the coronavirus pandemic could be a game changer
  Coronavirus disruptions are shaping domestic political currents while the world’s assessment of their Covid-19 efforts could have lasting soft power ramifications. Crucially, the race is on for economic recovery. Which economy bounces back faster from the coronavirus knock will affect the longer-term outcome of their power game. (South China Morning Post, China, March 31, 2020)
• US cybersecurity experts see spike in Chinese digital espionage
  A hacking group dubbed ‘APT41’ is believed to be behind a spate of attacks on at least 75 entities. Reuters .A US cybersecurity firm said Wednesday it has detected a surge in new cyberspying by a suspected Chinese group dating back to late January, when coronavirus was starting to spread outside China. (South China Morning Post, China, March 26, 2020)
• CIA attacks Chinese web firms, organs for a decade
  US hackers believed to have stolen substantial sensitive info: analysts Using cyberspace weapons, a hacking organization affiliated with the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has been attacking Chinese organs for over a decade, involving aerospace sector, scientific research institutions, internet companies, oil industry and government agencies, a report from a Chinese security company revealed on Tuesday.( People’s Daily, China, March 4, 2020)
• China makes great strides in clean energy generation
  In 2019, China's wind power generation capacity exceeded 400 billion kilowatt-hours for the first time. Meanwhile, China's photovoltaic power generation capacity reached 224.3 billion kilowatt-hours in 2019, a year-on-year growth of 26.3 percent. In 2019, China generated 405.7 billion kilowatt-hours of wind power, which is almost equivalent to the total energy that would be generated by four Three Gorges Hydropower Station in the same year. (People’s Daily, China, March 4, 2020)
• Coronavirus outbreak fans the flames of US-China decoupling debate in Washington
  Any hope that the US-China phase one trade deal would salvage the superpower relationship have been scotched by the coronavirus. Epidemic set to hit US economy and has led to rising discord among Washington figures, some of whom call for decoupling between the world’s two largest economies. (South China Morning Post, China, March 4, 2020)
• The US is endangering peace in the South China Sea by enforcing its own interpretations ofmaritime law
  The US is not a signatory to the UN convention on the law of the sea, but still judges another country’s ‘excessive maritime claims’ according to its own understanding of the rules. (South China Morning Post, China, March 4, 2020)
• Asean nations will consider Huawei as 5G supplier despite security questions, official says
  Bloc of Southeast Asian countries have not felt pressure from US to prevent Chinese firm’s involvement, deputy secretary general Aladdin Rillo says. US has been lobbying nations not to use Huawei’s technology, but Rillo ‘hopes to offer level playing field’ (South China Morning Post, China, March 4, 2020)
• PLA top epidemiologist-led team achieves breakthrough in COVID-19 vaccine R&D: report
  A research team led by a Chinese military major general who is a veteran in fighting SARS and Ebola has achieved a major breakthrough in developing a vaccine to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Chinese state broadcaster reported on Tuesday. (Global Times, China, March 4, 2020)
• Xi stresses overcoming COVID-19 impact to win fight against poverty
  President Xi Jinping on Friday stressed overcoming the impact of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) to clinch a complete victory in the fight against poverty. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at a symposium on securing a decisive victory in poverty alleviation. (People’s Daily, China, March 7, 2020)
• Xi stresses overcoming COVID-19 impact to win fight against poverty
  President Xi Jinping on Friday stressed overcoming the impact of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) to clinch a complete victory in the fight against poverty. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at a symposium on securing a decisive victory in poverty alleviation. (People’s Daily, China, March 7, 2020)
• China report says human rights situation deteriorating in U.S.
  China on Friday issued a report on human rights violations in the United States. Titled "The Record of Human Rights Violations in the United States in 2019," the report said the facts detailed in the document show that "in recent years, especially since 2019, the human rights situation in the United States has been poor and deteriorating." (People’s Daily, China, March 14, 2020)
• Xi says China ready to provide further assistance for Iran against COVID-19 epidemic
  Chinese President Xi Jinping said China will continue to provide as much assistance as it can for Iran in the latter's fight against the COVID-19 outbreak. (People’s Daily, China, March 14, 2020)
• China goes high-tech in fight against coronavirus
  From 5G robots, 3D-printed supplies to far-reaching medical advances, China has tackled the novel coronavirus with its tech prowess, which is proven effective as more promising signs signal progress in the country's anti-virus fight. (People’s Daily, China, March 15, 2020)
• A close look at U.S. hegemonic practices disguised in human rights protection A record of human rights violations in the U.S. was issued Friday by the State Council Information Office of China. The 20,000-character report titled “The Record of Human Rights Violations in the United States in 2019” cites abundant facts and data, proving that the human rights situation in the U.S. has been poor and deteriorating in recent years. (People’s Daily, China, March 17, 2020)
• U.S. economy "may be" heading toward recession due to lingering COVID-19
  U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that the United States could be coping with the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) until July or August and the country's economy "may be" heading toward a recession. (People’s Daily, China, March 17, 2020)
• China calls for lifting sanctions on Iran amid pandemic fight
  China called for immediately lifting sanctions on Iran to avoid interference in the COVID-19 fight and damage to the country's economy and people's livelihood, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang said Monday. (People’s Daily, China, March 17, 2020)
• Coronavirus: China’s income inequality could expand in 2020 as outbreak rattles world’s No 2economy
  Income inequality in China could expand in 2020 as the impact of the coronavirus outbreak ripples through the economy. Poor Chinese are likely to be disproportionately hit, both in terms of lost earnings and their ability to withstand risk, a new survey shows. (South China Morning Post, China, March 17, 2020)
• As China-US relations continue to sour, Beijing says expulsion of American reporters may justbe the start
  If Washington ‘continues on the wrong track, China will be forced to take further countermeasures’, foreign ministry spokesman says. (South China Morning Post, China, March 19, 2020)
• Zero new domestic coronavirus cases in China for first time since epidemic began
  Nationwide, the country recorded 34 new infections all of them from overseas. Latest death toll is also down to single figures, at just eight new fatalities. (South China Morning Post, China, March 19, 2020)
• The coronavirus will not be fatal for China’s Belt and Road Initiative but it will strike a heavyblow
  Projects face delays as the coronavirus prevents Beijing from supplying goods and people. And project resources will be diverted as China focuses on its own recovery. But the biggest casualty may be a loss of faith in Chinese-style connectivity. (South China Morning Post, China, March 19, 2020)
• Chinese naval planes conduct anti-submarine drills in South China Sea
  Two aircraft worked together to identify ‘suspicious objects’ in disputed waters, PLA Navy captain says. With military tensions rising in region, China is keen to put its anti-submarine capabilities to the test, observer says. (South China Morning Post, China, March 22, 2020)
• Coronavirus: Donald Trump points to China as reason for slow response to outbreak in US
  US president says if China had not been ‘very secretive’ things ‘would have been much better’. He then says his administration has not been slow in responding. (South China Morning Post, China, March 22, 2020)
• Coronavirus: China braced for second economic shock wave as Covid-19 controls kill demand
  After riding out a supply shock that closed down most of its factories, China is bracing for a second wave demand shock to its economy. Closure of overseas markets to hit exports, while psychological scars, bankruptcy and job losses will hit domestic demand. (South China Morning Post, China, March 24, 2020)
• Founder Ren Zhengfei says Huawei ‘working round the clock’ amid coronavirus pandemic toweather US sanctions
  Huawei was on the front foot before the coronavirus crisis gripped China because of pressure from the US government. Huawei has resumed over 90 per cent of its production and development operations, Ren said. (South China Morning Post, China, March 26, 2020)