China Policy Monitor No. 1625

PRC INFLUENCE CENTER STAGE AT YOON IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS
During proceedings by the South Korean Constitutional Court to decide whether to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol for his brief declaration of martial law, Yoon's attorney, Cha Gi-hwan, blamed China's interference in South Korean politics, elections, and media for the president's December decision. Citing PRC espionage threats, Yoon and his party had pushed for an amendment to the anti-espionage law to broaden its language from "enemy states" to "foreign countries," but the country's political opposition had blocked the change. When he imposed martial law, Yoon said "anti-state forces" were operating in South Korea. At a recent hearing, Cha argued that Chinese companies and nationals in South Korea were funding pro-PRC politicians and spread damaging fake news against their opponents. (Voice of America, February 18, 2025)

COOK ISLANDS INKS DEAL IN BEIJING, UPSETS NEW ZEALAND
The Cook Islands has released details of its new five-year strategic partnership with China, which is aimed at boosting bilateral cooperation between Avarua and Beijing. The partnership document pledges Chinese funding for infrastructure projects and scholarships in return for the Cook Islands giving China preferential access to the mining of seabed minerals and a greater voice in meetings of South Pacific nations. The deal does not mention how much funding China will provide, and is one of several bilateral agreements in the works. Cooperation with China "does not replace our longstanding relationships with New Zealand, Australia and others, but rather complements them, ensuring that we have a diversified portfolio of partnerships," Prime Minister Mark Brown told parliament after his return from Beijing. (Associated Press, February 18, 2025)

[EDITOR'S NOTE: With a population of 15,000, the Cook Islands is a self-governing country that receives the bulk of its development funding from, and shares a passport and a military with, New Zealand. The arrangement promises New Zealand's help with military and foreign affairs, but in return the Cook Islands consults New Zealand on strategic matters.]

U.S. AMENDS WORDING ON TAIWAN INDEPENDENCE
The U.S. State Department fact sheet has dropped the statement "we do not support Taiwan independence" from its website. The updated factsheet also says the U.S. will support Taiwan's membership in international organizations "where applicable." Commenting on the changes, Taiwan's Foreign Minister, Lin Chia-lung, thanked the U.S. for what he called "positive, Taiwan-friendly wordings." By contrast, Beijing said the revision constituted "serious regression" in the U.S.' stance on Taiwan. (BBC, February 17, 2025)

CHINA REPATRIATES 1000 SCAM VICTIMS FROM MYANMAR
More than 1000 PRC nationals have been airlifted back to China after they were rescued from organized criminals who forced them to work in online scam centers in Myanmar. So far, 16 charter flights, or about four per day, have taken off. Because of the large number of Chinese, Bangkok is allowing Beijing to handle their investigations. According to Xinhua, Chinese citizens "suspected of involvement in fraud" crossed the border into Thailand and were flown to Nanjing, Jiangsu. Over the past month, China, Thailand, and Myanmar have been collaborating to close the scam centers and free approximately 10,000 people from around the world who have been forced to use false romantic ploys, bogus investment pitches, and gambling schemes to defraud victims around the world. (NPR, February 20, 2025)

CHINA BACKS U.S.-RUSSIA UKRAINE PEACE INITATIVE
At a G20 meeting in South Africa, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China supports President Donald Trump's effort to strike a deal with Russia to end the war in Ukraine. As U.S. allies rallied around Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Wang Yi told other G20 foreign ministers in Johannesburg that: "China supports all efforts conducive to peace, including the recent consensus reached between the U.S. and Russia. China is willing to continue playing a constructive role in the political resolution of the crisis." During a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the G20, Wang said China-Russia relations are "moving towards a higher level and broader dimension." (Reuters, February 20, 2025)