China Reform Monitor No. 1532

CHINESE AND INDIAN TROOPS SKIRMISH ON THE BORDER
On December 9th, Chinese and Indian forces clashed again along their disputed Himalayan border in the Tawang Sector in India's northeastern territory of Arunachal Pradesh. According to one Indian army officer, several hundred PLA soldiers "confronted around 50 Indian soldiers who tried to challenge them. Around 30 soldiers received injuries, and six Indian army personnel were gravely injured." India's Defense Minister, Rajnath Singh, who addressed the Indian Parliament after the incident, said Chinese troops "encroached into Indian territory" and "unilaterally tried to change the status quo" along the border. "The Chinese attempt was contested by our troops in a firm and resolute manner," he said. "The ensuing face-off led to a physical scuffle in which the Indian army bravely prevented the PLA from transgressing into our territory and compelled them to return to their posts." (Guardian, December 13, 2022)

GOP GOVERNORS BAN TIKTOK ON STATE DEVICES
Republican governors around the U.S. are taking action against Chinese social media app TikTok, using executive orders to ban it from state devices. In 2020, Gov. Pete Ricketts (R-NE) became the first to ban the app from being loaded on state devices. Now, over the last two weeks, Governors Kristi Noem (R-SD), Henry McMaster (R-SC), Larry Hogan (R-MD), Greg Abbott (R-TX), Kevin Stitt (R-OK) have all followed suit. In a letter to Gov. Tony Evers (D-WI) Sen. Ron Johnson (R) and Reps. Mike Gallagher (R), Scott Fitzgerald (R), Bryan Steil (R), Glenn Grothman (R) and Tom Tiffany (R) called for banning the "nefarious Chinese Communist Party spyware" from Wisconsin government devices as well. (Washington Examiner, December 11, 2022) 

EU TAKES CHINA TO WTO OVER LITHUANIA TRADE DISPUTE
Europe has begun legal action at the World Trade Organization (WTO) against China over import restrictions that Beijing has imposed on Lithuania. The European Commission estimates that China cut trade from the country by 80% this year in retaliation for it allowing Taiwan's government to establish an office in 2021 in Vilnius with the name "Taiwan" instead of "Chinese Taipei." Lithuania's move angered Beijing, which withdrew its ambassador to the country and expelled the Lithuanian ambassador to China. The commission, which handles trade on behalf of EU member countries, said it is taking WTO action because "China has applied discriminatory and coercive measures against exports from Lithuania and against exports of EU products containing Lithuanian content [including] alcohol, beef, dairy, logs, and peat shipped from Lithuania." (Associated Press, December 7, 2022)

IRAN SUMMONS CHINESE AMBASSADOR OVER ISLANDS DISPUTE
During his recent trip to Saudi Arabia, Xi Jinping met with the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and signed a joint statement that mentioned, among other things, three disputed islands in the Strait of Hormuz. The three islands – Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa – have been governed by Iran since 1971 but are also claimed by the UAE. By signing the statement, which called for "bilateral negotiations in accordance with the rules of international law, and to resolve this issue in accordance with international legitimacy," China undermined Tehran's position that it would not hold talks on the islands. In response, Tehran summoned China's ambassador to voice its "strong dissatisfaction," and the country's Foreign Minister tweeted that the islands are "inseparable parts of Iran's pure soil." (Al-Jazeera, December 11, 2022)

CHINA MILITIA VESSELS AIM TO "CUT THE PHILIPPINES OFF"
Chinese vessels are "swarming" near Sabina Shoal, intercepting Filipino vessels, and now "passively intimidate or actively force" fishermen in the area. Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos of the Western Command of the Philippine Armed Forces said there are "about 20 vessels at any one time" in the area. Jay Batongbacal of the University of the Philippines said the incidents are concerning because Chinese maritime militia are posing as fishing boats. "These vessels are part of Chinese activities to eventually cut the Philippines off," Batongbacal said. In response, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo vowed to lodge more diplomatic protests with the UN and ASEAN members. (International Business Times, December 8, 2022)