China issues Passport Information to University Staff….

Australia: Beijing’s passport order to University of Technology Sydney staff

Academic staff at University of Technology Sydney refused to hand over personal details, including their passport numbers, after China’s Education Ministry demanded the information to continue a course for visiting students.

Science faculty associate dean for international partnerships Graham Nicholson told 21 UTS academics they were required to disclose their passport numbers and dates of birth “as part of the ongoing review of this program” by the ministry.

“You may be concerned by the request for your passport number,” he said in an email obtained by The Australian. “In China, all citizens have an identity card. As we don’t have these in Australia the next best option for them is your current passport number.”

Full Story Here: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/beijings-passport-order-to-university-of-technology-sydney-staff/news-story/449ed343de20368803624443e7cf37e7

Vanuatu’s lucrative ‘passports for sale’ scheme for Chinese nationals….

A top-down shot of a person handing over Chinese yuan for a green Vanuatu passport. — Photo: Vanuatu passports have been mostly sold to applicants from mainland China under the scheme. (ABC News: GFX/Jarrod Fankhauser)

Are you in the market for a second passport? One that can get you into scores of countries — including Europe, the UK, Hong Kong, Singapore and Russia — without needing a visa?

Key Points:

Applicants can become a Vanuatu citizen without needing to set foot in the country
It costs about $220,000 for a single application and more for couples and families
More than 4,000 passports have been sold under the scheme, with most to Chinese citizens

Or perhaps you’d like to park your money in a tax haven where there are no personal or corporate income taxes.

Maybe you’d just like to get away from the rat race and live on a picturesque tropical island in the South Pacific.

Vanuatu, then, could be the place for you.

These are some of the selling points of Vanuatu’s citizenship by investment scheme, or cash-for-passports as it’s also known locally.

Sales have been booming in recent years, providing the Government with an unexpected but lucrative source of revenue.

Full Story Here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-07/vanuatu-passports-for-sale-scheme-to-chinese-nationals/11387292

Hong Kong Protests, Chinese Economy, Trade War, & Trump’s New Tariffs by Gordon Chang

Gordon Chang, author of “The Coming Collapse of China.” Chang lived and worked in Hong Kong and China for over 20 years, including as a Partner in the international law firm Baker & McKenzie in Hong Kong.

Papua New Guinea asks China for help to refinance $11.8b national debt..

James Marape walks up some steps with a crowd of people behind him. — Photo: James Marape was sworn in as the country’s new Prime Minister in May. (Supplied: PNG Prime Minister’s Office)

In a move experts say could give Beijing even greater influence over Australia’s nearest neighbour, Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape has reached out to China to help refinance its 27 billion kina ($11.8 billion) national debt.

Key points:

Experts are concerned PNG could become shackled to China’s political interests
PNG’s debt stands at about 32.8 per cent of GDP
PNG wants to move away from an “aid-donor” relationship with Australia

Mr Marape made the request yesterday in a meeting with China’s ambassador to PNG Xue Bing in Port Moresby, according to a statement issued on Tuesday afternoon by his office.

But this afternoon, the Prime Minister appeared to backtrack on the Government’s earlier claims and said the statement was issued to media without his knowledge.

Full Story Here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-07/png-to-ask-china-for-help-refinancing-national-debt/11391186

Hong Kong; Tanks on the streets, Beijing keeps its options open…

A group of Chinese soldiers shouting while grasping bayonets

As another weekend of potentially violent clashes in Hong Kong nears, many people in the semi-autonomous Chinese city and around the world are asking the same question: would China really send in the People’s Liberation Army?

Key points:

Analysts say the chances of PLA soldiers descending into Hong Kong aren’t high
Hong Kong still has 28 years to go of its One Country, Two Systems model
Sending troops would deeply strain a number of diplomatic and financial relations

In recent weeks, the Chinese Government has gone to great lengths to tease the idea publicly.

A propaganda video from the Hong Kong garrison showing troops quelling civil unrest along with a similar large-scale police drill just across the mainland border were hardly subtle in their messaging.

Full Story: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-09/would-china-send-troops-to-hong-kong-to-crush-the-protests/11392704

China’s Hand In Nicaragua Nightmare

Dictator of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, has called Felix Maradiaga a terrorist. Others call him an academic and political activist in Nicaragua. At the 2019 Oslo Freedom Forum, I sat down with him to uncover what China’s role in Nicaragua’s nightmare, and how the United States can help.