China news roundup / Nachrichten 2026-06-27/28
A small plane slammed into the tallest skyscraper in China’s capital. Hours later, it was like nothing had happened.
"All references to the incident – and the shocking footage of it – had been scrubbed from Chinese social media. The government initially did not publicly acknowledge any incident had taken place. State media – including the country’s national broadcaster CCTV, headquartered across the road from the crash site – made no mention of the incident."
--- And most of the western media, as it seems, followed suit.
There was a lot of stuff already out there for every journalist to see but they waited until they got some report from the official Chinese media. One day without anything. Ridiculous.
The BBC doesn't even find it worth a proper report, just a short video.
"On Saturday afternoon local time, media affiliated with the Beijing government reported a “single-engine double-seat light sports aircraft collided with a high-rise building in flight,” and that the pilot – the only person on board – had been killed and 13 people injured at the scene. The incident was being “investigated”"
--- This is an investigation by the CCP which means that we will probably never know the complete truth.
"It’s still unknown whether the crash was accidental or intentional"
--- But there is a high probability that it was intentional. We can only guess, but it's probably a social revenge attack or actually a targeted attack against CITIC by a former employee.
"It is common practice for Chinese authorities to act quickly to censor or impose an information blackout and deploy a heavy police presence to any incident that is seen as potentially destabilizing social stability."
--- Or as embarrassing. Emperor Xi doesn't want to lose face.
"Beijing enacted a sweeping regulation last month to effectively ban casual recreational flying and consumer drones."
--- And a few weeks later we have a breach of that regulation. Quite embarrassing if you're the CCP.
China expels generals, member of politburo
"The removal marks the latest escalation in a years-long anti-corruption campaign initiated by President Xi Jinping that has seen scores of senior officials and top generals investigated, removed and purged."
--- Reuters of course sticks to the official party line. Corruption. But it's more probably just Emperor Xi's usual paranoia.
Ray Dalio just finished a 10-day trip to China. He says global leaders know America ‘doesn’t have what it takes to fight to maintain its empire’
"What Dalio observed in Beijing was not an adversarial standoff but rather a diplomatic migration. World leaders, he says, are now traveling to meet President Xi Jinping to “build tribute-type relationships”—a phrase that is the essay’s central thesis. We are, he argued, witnessing the early emergence of a modern version of China’s ancient tribute system: a hierarchical but nonmilitary order in which smaller powers acknowledge Chinese primacy in exchange for economic access and stability."
--- The Chinese empire was non-military? For someone who studied China he has a surprising lack of knowledge.
"It was not an empire in the Western sense, as China did not occupy or control subordinate states."
--- Nah, of course China did not occupy any states. China's growth into the huge empire that it finally was, was totally peaceful. Oh, what a bullshit.
"A KMT victory could open the door to a Hong Kong–style arrangement, Dalio suggests, without requiring American military intervention or Chinese military force."
--- Phhh... Even the KMT is not stupid enough to go for a Hong Kong style unification. Many KMT members would face jail time ro worse if the CCP would finally gain control of Taiwan.
‘Salami slicing’: How China is trying to increase control in the Pacific
"Observers say it’s the first time MSA vessels have been observed east of the “First Island Chain” that stretches from southern Japan through Taiwan and the Philippines and along the edges of the southern South China Sea along Borneo to Singapore.
Ray Powell, director of the SeaLight project at Stanford University’s Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation, which focuses on China’s gray-zone tactics, called it the “Bashi Breakout.”
Beijing “is essentially saying we have jurisdiction over this area on the other side of the First Island Chain. That’s pretty significant”"
--- Pretty significant. But also non-military, so according to Dalio everything is fine.
"“It will be a grave misreading if you only look at China’s regional activities through the lenses” of China-Taiwan tensions, the official said, adding that Japan and the Philippines are bearing the brunt of Beijing’s regional ambitions, too."
--- Yep.
Turtle power: how China uses scientific research to try to bolster territorial claims
"“By framing its activities as scientific research, environmental protection, coral reef surveys, and biodiversity conservation, China positions itself as a responsible maritime governance actor rather than merely a claimant seeking control,” he said. “This strategy shifts the narrative from one of coercion, access denial, or territorial disputes to one centered on conservation, sustainability, and the protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems.”
The approach offers Beijing a relatively inexpensive way to reinforce its presence while avoiding the more confrontational optics associated with military deployments or maritime standoffs."
--- But of course China needs to send some frigates, too, to make sure that these poor innocent scientists are not bothered by evil Philippines.
China detains two Japanese nationals suspected of smuggling banned goods
Korea lodges protest with China, Russia over entry of military aircraft into air defense zone
Bangladesh urges China to reduce trade gap, speed infrastructure delivery
--- China Uncensored features the usual weekend news variety again:
--- China Uncensored: "China Failed and Tried to Cover This Up"
--- DW: How China took over global shipbuilding — and why it matters
Kleinflugzeug kracht in Peking in Hochhaus
"Aufnahmen und Videos ließ die chinesische Regierung von Onlineplattformen löschen."
--- Ist ja auch etwas peinlich, dass sich so etwas in Peking zutragen kann. Im Zentrum der Macht.
"Warum die Maschine in das Gebäude krachte, bleibt bisher unklar - ebenso die Identität des Piloten."
--- Die Tagesschau beschränkt sich auf die offiziell veröffentlichten Informationen. Eigene Recherche oder etwa soziale Medien zu durchsuchen und zu zitieren, ist anscheinend nicht drin.
Menschenrechtler nach spektakulärer Flucht in Kanada
