Torbjørn Færøvik's Blog, page 211

Chinese Universities Introduce Weight Loss Classes for Unfit Students

As China grows increasingly concerned about the nation’s ballooning obesity rate, some universities are introducing intense new “weight loss classes” that assess students directly based on how many kilograms they can shed. Several colleges, including Beijing’s prestigious Peking University, have introduced weight loss courses, which count for college credit and in some cases are hugely

EU-China relations: De-risking or de-coupling − the future of the EU strategy towards China

To evaluate the European Union’s (EU) policy framework towards China, this study analyses the varied facets of bilateral relations and the EU’s approach towards China, including its policy of de-risking, together with issues relating to China’s domestic politics and foreign policy. It highlights the need for the EU to adopt a coherent vision and a comprehensive and consistent long-term China

Lessons from Tiananmen for Today’s University Presidents

Thirty-five years ago, in April 1989, Chinese students from Beijing’s elite universities began their occupation of Tiananmen Square. Their issues were different from those of American students today. Chinese demonstrators voiced concerns about corruption, inflation, the effects of on-going market reforms, and lack of free press and participatory governance. Today’s students at Columbia, NYU,

Taiwan's steely leader rewrote the book on how to deal with China

In Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan found an unlikely champion. During her two terms, she carefully yet confidently reset the relationship with Beijing, which has claimed the independently governed island as its own for 75 years. She stood up to an increasingly authoritarian and aggressive China under Xi Jinping; she held on to a vital US alliance under Donald Trump and buttressed it under Joe Biden. At home

Fearing war with China, civilians in Taiwan prepare for disaster

A missile has struck Taiwan's capital and wreaked devastation on an otherwise peaceful park. Moments earlier, pedestrians were strolling along paved streets lined with brick and stone buildings with slanted, tiled roofs that dot this hilly location. Now, torn limbs are scattered across blood-soaked cobblestones, and everywhere, the dying and the wounded are writhing on the ground, screaming in

The Ambitious Dragon: Beijing’s Calculus for Invading Taiwan by 2030

On 23 October 2022, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) announced that Chinese President Xi Jinping would serve an unprecedented third term leading the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). It is noteworthy that during his speech to the 20th National Congress of the CCP, President Xi repeatedly reinforced the narrative that “complete reunification of our country must be realized, and it can, without a

What’s Wrong With Traditional Weddings? Everything, Say Young Chinese.

When A Kang and his partner decided to get married in February, they quickly realized they didn’t want a traditional wedding. The elaborate rituals that have become common in China — the fleet of limousines, diamond rings, lavish banquet, and professional emcee — felt wasteful and meaningless.  So the couple decided to go in a radically different direction. They hired a simple banquet hall,

Bargain-hungry Americans are flocking to Temu and making its Chinese owner very rich

PDD Holdings, the owner of Temu and Pinduoduo, is blowing past market expectations with a massive surge in profit and revenue as American and Chinese consumers swarm its bargain shopping apps for low-cost products. The Shanghai-based company reported Wednesday that net profit soared 246% to 28 billion yuan ($3.9 billion) in the first quarter of 2024, more than double the average analyst

China says military drills encircling Taiwan designed to test its ability to ‘seize power’

China’s military drills around Taiwan are designed to test its ability to “seize power” over the island, the People’s Liberation Army said Friday as its forces kicked off a second day of large-scale exercises encircling its democratic neighbor. The drills are the largest in more than a year and come just days after Taiwan swore in its new president, Lai Ching-te, who is openly loathed by Beijing

What do China's drills around Taiwan tell us?

Thursday's drills focused on encircling the island, simulating a full-scale attack, minus the actual landing of troops, Taiwan military expert Chieh Chung says. He thinks the inclusion of all of Taiwan’s off-shore islands demonstrates China’s plan to eliminate facilities that could launch a counter-attack against the PLA.He also thinks this two-day drill will not be the last Taiwan will have to