Andrew’s July 2021 Newsletter

(My quarterly Newsletter goes out to some 8,500 professional contacts worldwide. The following is my July 2021 issue. Back numbers may be accessed under What's New on my website

Greetings! May I first wish you a relaxing summer, pandemics permitting!
 
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has just celebrated its centenary. Under its tutelage, the lives of the Chinese people, a fifth of mankind, have been miraculously transformed. China has become the world's second largest economy, largest trader and manufacturer, with notable advances in computing, 5G, AI, military and space capabilities. After a "Century of Humiliation", the Chinese people can now hold their heads up high, embracing the China Dream of national renaissance, including a greener and "more beautiful China".
 
According to Harvard and PEW research surveys, across the globe, the CCP is the government most trusted and supported by its people, belying questions about its legitimacy.  Meanwhile, perhaps by 2028, China may overtake the United States as the world's largest economy (albeit not in per capita terms).
 
On the other hand, China's growing global clout, its perceived transgressions on human rights, undesirable trade practices and assertive actions over the South China Sea, Taiwan, Xinjiang, and Hong Kong, are troubling Western nations and Asian neighbors. Indeed, China's image is plummeting across the world. 
 
China has no intention to rival the United States' 800 military bases in more than 70 countries. Its scientific and technological breakthroughs in multiple fields remain way behind the United States. The mighty dollar still reigns supreme. Nor can China hope its ideology will be readily embraced by more than a handful of countries, or that its culture will be more popular. 
 
Regardless, intensifying Great Power contest has totally upended US-China relations across the board, including ideologies, the military and space. On the other hand, the world is becoming more multipolar, with many countries, including most Western allies, hedging their bets. 
 
In this generational geopolitical maelstrom, how to avert war and promote peace will continue to tax the best minds. Would a little less binary or Manichaean thinking help?  On ideological application to China, should one recall Deng Xiaoping's black cat, white cat, or perhaps a hybrid cat in between? 
 
The following may hopefully serve to stimulate some fresh thinking. 
 
China's politics, economy, and finance
China: No longer the Global Growth Engine? (Feature article in The Global Analyst and a Bloomberg Research report warning) 
What China's Low Growth Means for the World – China's game-changing Five Year Plan (2021-25) (Feature article in The Global Analyst
China's digital currency (Feature article in The Global Analyst
Understanding China's Innovative Development (A PowerPoint presentation) 
China's 18.3% first quarter growth in 2021 – what's behind it? (Exclusive live TV interview on TRT World
 
US-China relations and Geopolitics 
New Concert of Powers (Feature article in World Geostrategic Insights, republished in Chinese, FrenchSpanishRussian, and Arabic. (Original commentary)
Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community April 2021 (An analysis) 
Waning US must overcome fear of China's inevitable rise (Op-ed in South China Morning Post
How Will We (U.S.) Win the Second Cold War? (A riposte in World Geostrategic Insights
Can Asia guide Biden's China Policy? (An insightful analysis (video) by Professor Kishore Mahbubani) 
President Biden's State of the Union address – warning to Russia and China (Live interview on Press TV)
 
Energy and Climate Change
The Future of Power Is Transcontinental, Submarine Supergrids: China wants to lead the way in creating a global energy internet (An in-depth analysis)
Would a US-led Carbon Tax, instead of partnership, spur China's progress under the Paris Agreement? (Article in World Geostrategic Insights) (Original commentary)
 
Taiwan
Post-script on Taiwan (Feature article for the UK Liberal Democrats
American senators land in Taipei, trip likely to irritate China – but what is the end-game? (Live interview on PressTV
U.S. reaffirms partnership with Chinese Taipei during high-level visit (Live interview on Press TV)
China’s navy says ongoing drills near Taiwan to become regular (Live interview on Press TV)
 
Hong Kong
Changes at the top of the Hong Kong government (Backchat discussion on RTHK (Radio Television Hong Kong
Hong Kong's Apple Daily to shut down in a few days after asset frozen – smoke and mirrors  (Backchat discussion on RTHK (Radio Television Hong Kong
June 4 in Hong Kong under National Security Law (Backchat discussion on RTHK (Radio Television Hong Kong and a brief note on the future of Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China) 
Hong Kong to introduce Beijing-imposed electoral reform – whys and wherefores (Backchat discussion on RTHK (Radio Television Hong Kong) and a SCMP video documentary China’s Rebel City: The Hong Kong Protests.
Hong Kong Immigration Bill amendment controversy (Backchat discussion on RTHK (Radio Television Hong Kong
Suspension of HK protest documentary "Inside the Red Brick Wall"  (Backchat discussion on RTHK (Radio Television Hong Kong
 
North Korea
North Korea rules out 'any contact' with US (Live interview on Press TV and a Foreign Policy report
Pyongyang accuses Washington of insulting dignity of North Korean leadership ( (Live interview on Press TV)
 
Russia 
Russia warns against Ukraine-NATO activities (Live interview on Press TV
 
Belt and Road  
Sri Lanka handing control over Hambantota Port to China  (Live TV panel discussion on CNN News 18 of India) 
 
History
Admiral Zheng He may have explored the New World way before Christopher Columbus (Exploring Zheng He's possible footprints in the New World
 
Cheer up and chill out
 
Here's a repertoire of inspirational music, videos, songs and words. There is also a collection in Chinese.

Invitation for expressions of interest in investment opportunities

An upended world abounds with fresh BUY and SELL investment opportunities on many fronts across the globe, including new technologies, new markets and new businesses. If you wish to avail yourself of my business network worldwide, please drop me a line on a strictly no-commitment basis initially. A UK property and alternative asset opportunity is featured here .

Consultation services

Please email me at andrewkpleung@gmail.com or text my Hong Kong mobile +852 98198987.  I can also be reached on Skype at andrew.k.p.leung, LinkedIn at andrewleunginternational, Whatsapp at (852) 98198987, WeChat at Andrewkpleung, Facebook at andrewkinpongleung, and Twitter at @Andrewkpleung

Speaking and lecturing invitations

I am open to invitations or proposals for speaking engagements, visiting lectures and tailor-made electives as a visiting/adjunct professor. 

Business networking and speaking platform in Hong Kong

As an Advisor to the Denmark-based Executives' Global Network Hong Kong, I welcome your suggestion of a suitable speaker for an EGN event in Hong Kong. This will be entirely at our own cost with acknowledgement of your support, provided that we are not asked to cover any speaking fee, travel or accommodation expenses.

RSS feed and weblinks

My postings are regularly uploaded under my three blogs CHINAwatch, Publications and What is New on www.andrewleunginternationalconsultants.com  A collection of leading China media and research sites can be found under China Links.

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Courtesies

I look forward to your guidance, advice, comments, suggestions, and criticisms. You may share the above contents with colleagues or friends. You are also welcome to publish any of them with full attribution. 

If you think that I may add value to your endeavors in any way, please let me know how I may help.  If for any reason you do not wish to receive my emails, just ask me to delete your name from my databank permanently. 

Best personal regards, 

Andrew K.P. Leung, SBS, FRSA

International and Independent China Strategist

www.andrewleunginternationalconsultants.com  

Positions  

Chairman and CEO, Andrew Leung International Consultants and Investments Limited
(Founded in London, now re-incorporated in Hong Kong; name changed from Andrew Leung International Consultants Limited as from 10 July, 2017) 
China Futures Fellow, Berkshire Publishing Group, Massachusetts, USA (2011-13)
Brain Trust member, The Evian Group (global think-tank), Lausanne, Switzerland
Gerson Lehrman Group (Global Experts) Council Member
International Expert, Reuters Insight Community of Experts, Thomson Reuters 
Senior Analyst, Wikistrat, a cloud-sourced global strategic consultancy based in Tel Aviv and Washington D.C. 
Senior Consultant, MEC International (a UK-based global strategic energy consultancy) 
Distinguished Contributor, Asymmetric Threats Contingency Alliance (ATCA) (global think-tank)
Certified Sustainable Development Planner, World Institute of Sustainable Development Planners

Fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (FRSA)
Elected Member, Royal Society for Asian Affairs

Think-tank Research Fellow, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai Campus, PRC (14.4.2017-13.4.2020) 
Advisory Board memberThe e-Centre , European Centre for e-Commerce and Internet Law, Vienna 
Honorary Adviser, International Institute of Management (IIM
Advisory Board member, The Global Analyst, India
Honorary President, China Hong Kong Economic and Trading International Association (from 28 March, 2016) 
Global Commercial Agent, Changsha City, China
Hong Kong Advisory Board member, Denmark-based Executive Global Network (EGN)
Visiting Professor, London Metropolitan University Business School 
Governing Council Member, King’s College London, UK (2004-2010)
Advisory Board member, China Policy Institute, Nottingham University, UK (2005 -2010)
Visiting Professor, Sun Yat-sen University Business School, China (2005-10)
Founding Chairman, China Group, Institute of Directors City Branch, London, UK (2006-2010)
Vice Chairman, 48 Group Club, UK (2008-2010)
Committee Member of RSA, London Region, UK (2006-2010)
Included in UK's Who's Who since 2002
Awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star (SBS) in the July 2005 Hong Kong Honours List  

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