China Reform Monitor: No. 1093

March 10:

China did not export crude oil to North Korea in January, Yonhap reports. The suspension followed the execution of Jang Song-thaek in December, the once-powerful uncle of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who was considered a supporter of Chinese-style reforms and played an important role in economic projects with Beijing. China did not export oil to North Korea in February, June or July of last year. Yet, despite these interruptions, annual crude oil shipments from China to North Korea rose 11.2 percent year-on-year to 578,000 tons in 2013.

March 13:

Zhu Bangzao, China’s ambassador to Spain, has denied that Beijing pressured Madrid after Spain’s National High Court issued arrest warrants for several former Chinese leaders over repression in Tibet. Spain is considering judiciary reforms introduced by the ruling Popular Party that would constrain the cases of international justice in which a Spanish judge can intervene. Zhu was diplomatic: “It is something that belongs to Spain’s domestic politics and if we do not want Spain to interfere in Chinese internal affairs, nor should we interfere in Spanish domestic affairs.” He said China hoped that Spain’s judiciary reform would go ahead and pave the way for Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s visit to China, Spain’s ABC reports.

March 14:

Uighur fighters in mountain bases on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border are preparing attacks in China to avenge Beijing’s crackdown on their separatist movement, their leader, Abdullah Mansour, told Reuters. Using an Afghan SIM card and speaking from an undisclosed location, the leader of the Turkestan Islamic Party said: “To fight against China is our Islamic responsibility and we have to fulfill it. China is not only our enemy, but it is the enemy of all Muslims. We have plans for many attacks in China. We have a message to China that East Turkestan people and other Muslims have woken up. They cannot suppress us and Islam anymore. Muslims will take revenge.” In the last couple of years, Taliban militants have begun to operate in increasing proximity to the Chinese border. “There has been a lot of movement there. Perhaps that gives them the logistical support that they require to cross over into China,” said Saifullah Mahsud, head of Pakistan’s FATA Research Center.

[Editor’s Note: Pakistani intelligence sources say hundreds of Uighurs migrated to Pakistan about five years ago after they were squeezed out of Xinjiang by a Chinese crackdown. Today there are about 400 fighters clustered around the remote Mir Ali area, sharing bases with other foreign insurgents, particularly Uzbeks, who speak a similar language. There are an additional 250 Uighur militants in Afghanistan’s Nuristan and Kunar provinces. “They live here with us but are always concerned about their people and mission in China. They are nice people, good Muslims and the best fighters,” a senior Taliban commander said.]

March 19:

Despite China’s desire to preserve high-speed rail as an area of Sino-Indian cooperation, Indian officials have removed it from the third Strategic Economic Dialogue’s infrastructure working group agenda. New Delhi denied that security concerns influenced the decision, although high-speed rail will require the acquisition of extensive land holdings for track construction. Meanwhile, Indian railway officials awarded Japan a contract to carry out a feasibility study for the Mumbai-Vadodara high-speed rail route. India is seeking Chinese expertise to raise speeds on three key railway corridors from 130 km per hour to 160-200 km, the Hindu reports.

March 20:

More than 200 mostly student protesters have barricaded themselves inside Taiwan’s parliament for a third straight day, threatening “further action” if the government ratifies a trade pact with China. Protesters stormed through security barriers and took over the parliament’s main chamber. Hundreds of police attempting to retake the building failed to breach the improvised barricades the students fashioned out of armchairs, The Manila Times reports. The protesters have vowed to occupy the parliament until lawmakers hold a full session to review the agreement, which was signed in July to open up services trade between China and Taiwan. The protesters claim the deal will damage Taiwan’s economy and leave it vulnerable to political pressure from China.