In The News

North Korea Fires Two Projectiles: Korea Times

Jung Da-min August 17, 2019
North Korea fired two projectiles into the East Sea, making that six tests conducted within the last month. Analysts report the characteristics suggest short-range ballistic missiles. The central news agency in North Korea also dismissed calls for dialogue by South Korea President Moon Jae-in’s calls for dialogue. South Korea’s National Security Council convened, and a joint military drill...

Hong Kong Remains Important to China: Economist

August 12, 2019
Protests have paralyzed Hong Kong throughout the summer, putting China’s system of governance for the island into question. While the protesters’ numbers have fallen, the movement has expanded its demands and methods, including disruptions that have forced the Hong Kong airport to close. The protests may have dashed China’s vision for Hong Kong as an “‘economic’ city in which politics plays a...

China Revises Conservation List: Sixth Tone

Li You August 10, 2019
China is reviewing its list of protected wildlife and plans to expand the number of species under protection. The draft includes more than 700 terrestrial species of which 185 will receive priority protection. “While animals with first-level status receive greater protections and cannot be captured without a permit from a national-level wildlife department, animals with second-level status can be...

Korea to Ban Stock Short-Selling: Korea Herald

Park Ga-young August 7, 2019
Stock exchanges of many nations imposed various bans on short-selling during and after the 2008-2009 global debt crisis. Investors expecting a stock to decline borrow shares – as a hedging strategy or speculation – and then resell these to buyers who pay the market price: Further decline results in profits for the first investor while a rise can result in huge losses, explains Investopedia. South...

China Produces Caviar: Quartz

Ephrat Livni August 7, 2019
China is leading the world in the highly regulated caviar industry. The term, once applied strictly to the roe from wild-caught sturgeon, is now loosely applied to eggs from multiple species of fish, whether caught in the wild or raised in aquaculture facilities. The delicacy originated in Russia and Turkey before spreading to Europe and the rest of the world, and in overfishing became a threat...

China's Central Bank Saves the Day: Forbes

Kenneth Rapoza August 6, 2019
A trade war and US tariffs have eroded the value of China’s currency. The US president announced tariffs and global stock markets declined. The US Treasury Department designated China as a currency manipulator, and China’s central bank announced removing about 30 billion yuan, or $4.2 billion, from the Hong Kong market. China denies the currency manipulation charge. “Many emerging market central...

China Hits Back at US on Trade: Bloomberg

Malcolm Scott, Kevin Hamlin and Tian Chen August 5, 2019
The trade war is not ending quickly and tensions grow after the US president announced a new round of tariffs as of September 1. China let the yuan tumble to seven per dollar, the lowest level since 2008. Donald Trump had accused China of currency manipulation, but China may be giving him a lesson in market forces - despite the risk for capital flight. China’s state-owned enterprises will also...