August 1, 2023 National News

1) A ceremony to promote officers to the rank of general was held on July 31 at the Bayi Building in Beijing. Xi Jinping, Chairman of the Central Military Commission, attended the ceremony.

Xi Jinping replied to a letter encouraging all officers and soldiers of the "model airborne unit": Carry forward glorious traditions, hone their skills, and strive to forge an airborne force that is capable of winning battles. The journal "Seeking Truth" published an important article by General Secretary Xi Jinping: "Strengthening Basic Research to Achieve High-Level Technological Self-Reliance and Self-Strengthening."

2) Premier Li Qiang presided over an executive meeting of the State Council on July 31, deciding to approve nuclear power projects in Shidaowan, Shandong; Ningde, Fujian; and Xudabao, Liaoning. On the morning of July 31, Premier Li Qiang met with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Mr. Garibashvili was in China to attend the opening ceremony of the 31st World University Summer Games and for a visit.

3) [Rule of Law] The Supreme People’s Procuratorate: Punish according to law crimes committed by insiders of private enterprises that affect the healthy development of private enterprises. The Supreme People’s Court released 11 typical cases of equal protection under the law for private enterprises. Han Yunping, director of the International Standards and Technical Regulations Research Center of the General Administration of Customs, is under disciplinary review and supervisory investigation. Wang Xinwu, deputy director of the Animal and Plant Quarantine Department of the General Administration of Customs, is under disciplinary review and supervisory investigation. Sun Yongning, an external director of China Railway Qinghai-Tibet Group Co., Ltd., is under disciplinary review and supervisory investigation. Mei Zhengrong, former deputy director of the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Transportation, is under review and investigation. Guo Shijie, former secretary of the Minxian County Committee of Gansu Province, was sentenced to life imprisonment in the first instance. Wang Ping, a consultant to the Qinghai Provincial People’s Government, is under disciplinary review and supervisory investigation. Chen Xianming, general manager of Anhui State-owned Capital Operation Holding Group Co., Ltd., is under disciplinary review and supervisory investigation. Zhou Lijun, former deputy director of the Social and Legal Affairs Committee of the Shandong Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, was expelled from the Party and removed from public office for serious violations of discipline and law.

4) On the afternoon of July 31, 57 days after the Shenzhou 15 crew returned, the China Astronaut Research and Training Center held a meeting between the crew and reporters. The three astronauts appeared in Beijing Aerospace City, refreshed and in high spirits, officially meeting the public.

The "China Sky Eye" reveals the characteristics of the mechanism of fast radio bursts from magnetars. The domestically produced "New Ark" 60 fire-fighting aircraft successfully completed its maiden flight.

6) The Ministry of Natural Resources and the China Meteorological Administration jointly issued a red alert for geological disaster weather risks. Typhoon "Khanun" is expected to reach super typhoon strength, with 17-level gusts and 7-meter high waves. It is moving northwest at a speed of 15-20 kilometers per hour and will move into the East China Sea on the night of August 2. Vessels passing through the area should pay attention to navigation safety.

7) Beijing upgraded its flood red alert, with numbered floods occurring on the Yongding River and Daqing River. The Lugou Bridge dam will increase the discharge! The meteorological department advises to "stay away from rivers and avoid mountainous areas." Hebei issued three consecutive heavy rain red alerts in one day, with 20 large and medium-sized reservoirs pre-releasing water. Shijiazhuang, Cangzhou, Hengshui, Xingtai, and Handan in Hebei have launched a Level I emergency response for flood and typhoon prevention. In the past two days, parts of central and southern Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei have accumulated rainfall exceeding 100 mm, with several national meteorological observation stations exceeding their historical daily rainfall records. In some areas of Hebei, rainfall approached 1000 mm, amounting to nearly two years' worth of rain in just two days.

8) [Military] The Central Propaganda Department and the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission jointly announced 13 "Most Beautiful Revolutionary Soldiers of the New Era." On July 31, the Ministry of National Defense held a grand reception to celebrate the 96th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army. The Central Military Commission’s National Defense Mobilization Department has built a new "four-modernization" model for warehouse management. After the floodwaters receded, the streets of Putian, Fujian were muddy, and People’s Armed Police officers and soldiers participated in post-disaster reconstruction.

China and the UAE will hold their first joint air force exercise.

9) [Hong Kong and Macau] On July 30, the Hong Kong Garrison held a reception to celebrate the 96th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government launched a public consultation on the 2023 Policy Address.

10) [Taiwan] Guo Taiming, who failed to secure the nomination of the Kuomintang, visited the United States, while Hou Youyi visited Japan for a three-day "friendship trip." The rivalry between the two is intense.