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Tsunami speeds up key Japan lithium battery plant’s move to China
A Japanese factory that produces polyvinylidene fluoride substrate for 70% of the lithium-ion batteries on earth – and all the batteries for Apple’s iPad – was destroyed in the March 11 Sendai Earthquake and Tsunami. Kureha Corp. says it was “already thinking about shifting some of our production to the States and China. We will now accelerate these plans." A move will be a loss to Japan -- and ideally, the plant should remain there -- but if it must move, let's hope most of the operations come to the U.S. -- not to China.
Japan and Philippines increasingly nervous about Chinese naval harassment
China eyes “Monroe Doctrine” for East Asia
US Naval War College professor James R. Holmes, sees China’s “build-up of maritime strength—manifest in a powerful fleet supported by shore-based aircraft and missiles” as aimed at establishing a “Monroe Doctrine” in East Asian waters.
http://the-diplomat.com/flashpoints-blog/2011/03/28/china-eyes-naval-tra...
Somehow China gets more ‘soft power’ bang for aid buck than U.S.
Washington POst columnist Michael Gerson - reporting from Malawi - sees little but Chinese construction across the skyline of Lilongwe, the Malawian capital. He muses that China is amassing far more 'soft power' than the U.S.
China’s African investments: Who benefits? http://www.washingtonpost.com/2011/03/28/AF8G7mqB_story.html
Chinese citizen guilty of attempt to smuggle military microchips worth $620,000
A Chinese resident of Washington state pled guilty in federal court to charges he attempted to ship 300 Xilinx radiation-hardened programmable semiconductor devices to an unnamed Chinese purchaser. In return for his guilty plea, Yang will remain free on his own recognizance until his sentencing June 30. Possible flight risk, eh?
“Woodinville man pleads guilty to attempted sale of banned technology to China,” (Seattle Times) March 26 at http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014590785_yangplea26m.html
Chinese Yuan among Asia’s least-appreciating currencies
Chinese Yuan among Asia’s least-appreciating currencies: Although China’s renminbi has appreciated 4.3 percent in the last year, it was among the five least-performing currencies in Asia, and the only currency in Asia to appreciate less than half its GDP growth. “Renminbi: ‘Redback’ puts the brakes on,” (Financial Times) March 28, at http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1c6a98d4-58ef-11e0-9b8a-00144feab49a.html
Fake Zippos from China plague Pennsylvania Firm
Zippo Lighters last a lifetime and have a lifetime guarantee, so it’s not surprising that Zippo repairs 100,000 ancient lighters a year. But China makes 12 million fake “Rippos” a year, most bearing counterfeit Zippo trademarks, which find their ways to Zippo’s repair shops. This front page "A-head" in the WSJ is a parable about the metastization of China's galactic counterfeit industry across the global economy.
Nearly a fifth of all foreign students in U.S. are from China
Of the 691,000 foreign students who enrolled in American universities in the 2009-2010 academic year, nearly 128,000 — or 18 percent — were Chinese. “Chinese students enrolling in U.S. colleges in record numbers” (Chicago Sun Times) March 27, http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/4266771-423/chinese-students-enrollin...
Chinese trade influence in Latin America worries U.S.
A Financial Times analysis sees renewed U.S. interest in Latin America, from President Obama’s visit to the urgent push a for free trade pacts with Colombia and Panama, as driven by China’s ever-growing presencein the region. China is now Columbia’s number two trading partner, and Brazil is alarmed that China’s cheap currency and low wages have hollowed out their manufacturing sector. (Financial Times) March 27, at http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9993ec80-586c-11e0-9b8a-00144feab49a.html
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