Mayflower Church members arrive in U.S. after Thailand deportation scare (April 11, 2023, Radio Free Asia)
Dozens of members of a persecuted Protestant church in China have arrived in the United States after escaping the country via Thailand, where they were also detained by the immigration authorities amid fears of repatriation. The Mayflower Church members touched down in Dallas on Good Friday after a coordinated effort from advocacy groups and politicians to bring them to the country.
Joann Pittman
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April 13, 2023
Chinese Christians Adapt Under New Restrictions (March 30, 2023, The Gospel Coalition)
The Gospel Coalition asked Chinese pastor, Reformed theologian, and church network leader Zhang San about increasing restrictions, ways he’s seen God at work, and what worries pastors even more than registration apps or closing churches.
Joann Pittman
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April 6, 2023
Easter and the Tomb Sweeping Festival Share a Nerdy Connection (March 27, 2023, Christianity Today) (registration required)
An order known for astronomy and mathematics, the Jesuits drove the reforms in both the Western world and China that dictate how we plan our days, months, and holidays.
Joann Pittman
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March 30, 2023
Xi and Putin pledge to shape a new world order as the Chinese leader leaves Russia with no peace in sight for Ukraine (March 22, 2023, NBC News)
As Xi departed he told Putin: “Now there are changes that haven’t happened in 100 years. When we are together, we drive these changes.”
Joann Pittman
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March 23, 2023
China reopening borders to foreign tourists for first time since Covid erupted (March 14, 2023, BBC)
From 15 March, foreign offices can process applications for Chinese visas.
Visa-free entry will also resume in Hainan Island and Shanghai for cruise ships.
Tour groups from Hong Kong and Macau will also regain their visa-free privilege.
In addition, valid visas issued before China closed to the world on 28 March 2020 will be honoured again.
Joann Pittman
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March 16, 2023
Xi Jinping Says He Wants to Spread China’s Wealth More Equitably. How Likely Is That to Actually Happen? (March 3, 2023, China File)
After Xi began invoking “common prosperity” in 2021, a rash of new regulations and fines on private capital and technology companies suggested that rhetoric was translating quickly into action. But in the 18 months since, even as it continues to be invoked, common prosperity has seemed to play a much more minor role in policymaking.
Joann Pittman
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March 9, 2023
Fragmenting network protocols – China and the end of the web as we know it (February 24, 2023, MERICS)
China is rolling out a new internet protocol (IP) that threatens the fair and equal treatment of traffic on the internet, also known as net neutrality. IPv6+ is a routing system for internet data that allows senders to specify to the network provider the type of content in a data packet and the route it should take.
Joann Pittman
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March 2, 2023
China declares 'decisive victory' over COVID-19 (February 16, 2023, Reuters)
China's top leaders declared a "decisive victory" over COVID-19, claiming the world's lowest fatality rate, although experts have questioned Beijing's data as the coronovirus tore across the country after largely being kept at bay for three years.
Joann Pittman
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February 23, 2023
Beijing Shouwang Church was Raided, and Pastor Zhang Xiaofeng Detained (February 10, 2023, China Aid)
On February 8, Shouwang Church held a church service at a place they rented in Kemao Market, Zhongguancun, Beijing when it was interrupted by police. […] They announced that the gathering held by Shouwang Church was illegal pursuant to the new Regulations of Religious Affairs and the shutdown decision issued by Bureau of Civil Affairs.
Joann Pittman
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February 16, 2023
On a Spring Roll (February 4, 2023, The World of Chinese)
Spring rolls are considered a classic Chinese food, but did you know they actually come in many varieties across the country?
Joann Pittman
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February 9, 2023
Video: China’s New Civil Religion (February 1, Center for Religion and Culture, Fordham University)
How is the Chinese government combining patriotism with local faiths? Can authoritarianism and religious life coexist? Pulitzer Prize-winning author and journalist, Ian Johnson, discusses these questions and more.
Joann Pittman
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February 2, 2023
Frontline Wuhan: the first city struck by Covid-19 learns its lessons (January 25, 2023, South China Morning Post)
Emergency doctor Ai Fen was one of the first in the world to see the effects of the new coronavirus and has just coped with latest wave. The city’s healthcare system was better prepared this time and handled the rising cases with ease, but there is still room for improvement.
Joann Pittman
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January 26, 2023