China Reform Monitor No. 1513

RUSSIAN SCIENTISTS ARRESTED FOR PASSING HYPERSONIC DATA TO CHINA
Russia has detained two scientists from Siberia on suspicion of treason for transferring data related to hypersonic weapons to China's security services. Dmitry Kolker, head of a quantum optical technologies laboratory at Novosibirsk State University, and Anatoly Maslov, chief scientist at an institute of theoretical and applied mechanics in Novosibirsk, were charged and detained by the FSB. "Maslov is suspected of providing data that is a state secret," the official Russian TASS news agency reported. If found guilty, he faces up to twenty years in prison. Kolker, who was accused of disclosing information in lectures he gave in China, died of advanced cancer the day after his arrest. (Reuters, July 2, 2022)

CHINA SEES "NEW GOLDEN ERA" WITH THE PHILIPPINES UNDER MARCOS
Vice President Wang Qishan has attended the inauguration ceremony of new Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos in Manilla, and met with him to discuss bilateral relations. Marcos told Wang that he considered China "the most powerful partner of the Philippines," and that Manilla would "deepen its participation in the joint construction of the Belt and Road, join hands with China in coping with regional challenges, and elevate bilateral ties to a higher level." He added that Manilla would work with Beijing "to find ways to resolve conflicts," and called for more cultural, educational, and military exchanges between the two countries. Wang responded that, with Marcos' election, the relationship had "turned a new page," called for both countries "to join hands and further enhance mutual trust," and urged more cooperation "in all areas of our comprehensive strategic partnership" to produce "a new golden era" in relations. (The Inquirer, July 7, 2022)

CHINA'S DEFENSE ATTACHÉS REMOVED FROM PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM
Fijian police removed two Chinese defense attaches during vice-president Kamala Harris' virtual address to the Pacific Islands Forum meeting. The men, who were sitting in the media section, were identified as embassy officials by a Fijian journalist who alerted protocol officers. Fijian police then escorted the two men from the room. The journalist recognized one man from the previous month's visit by Foreign Minister Wang Yi. "He was one of the people that was removing us from places and directing other people to remove us," she said. Both men were later confirmed to be the defense attaché and a deputy defense attaché at the PRC embassy in Fiji. The incident comes amid China's aggressive embrace of the region over the last few months. (The Guardian, July 12, 2022)

"BUY FROM TRUSTED SOURCES ONLY," DELHI TELLS TECH FIRMS
To prevent Huawei and ZTE from providing telecom gear to Indian operators for their upcoming 5G services, India's Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued a notice mandating telecom companies source devices only from "trusted sources." "We have found that these Chinese telecom gears are not safe at all. It is dangerous to use these devices," said a DoT official. In 2021, the DoT changed telecom licensing norms to include "defense" and "national security" as parameters for the purchase of trusted telecom products. The instructions do not affect maintenance contracts or software updates to existing equipment. (The New Indian Express, July 12, 2022)

INDIA INTERCEPTS PLAAF FIGHTERS OVER DISPUTED TERRITORY
Like Japan and Taiwan, India has now begun scrambling aircraft whenever Chinese military aircraft cross the Line of Actual Control (LAC), said Indian Air Force Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari. Last month, a PLA fighter jet breached the LAC and flew over friction points. The aircraft was detected by India, which launched its own fighter to intercept the Chinese plane. "Air activity across LAC is continuously monitored by us. Whenever we find Chinese aircraft coming a little too close to the LAC, then, we take appropriate measures by scrambling our fighters and putting our systems on high alert," Chaudhari said. (Hindustan Times, July 17, 2022)