Very few people in India read Chinese news. Can be very inaccessible. So I'm starting something new. I'll do a daily thread on People's Daily, using translations. That might make it more accessible & better inform debate. So here goes Sunday's edition.

Feedback is welcome.
Page 1: A piece on HK’s natsec law. The argument is that US criticism shows double standards, i.e., it isn’t about HK but about “hegemonism.” Also natsec laws are mandates of national legislatures + when US could change laws after 9/11, why can’t China? http://paper.people.com.cn/rmrb/html/2020-05/31/nw.D110000renmrb_20200531_2-01.htm
Page 2 has draft budget details. So this is really useful to dig into. For ex: in pics are the specific expenditure by the central govt in 2019 and commitments in 2020. There’s a 11.8% dip in diplomatic expenditure this year. http://paper.people.com.cn/rmrb/html/2020-05/31/nw.D110000renmrb_20200531_2-02.htm
Page 3: We’re back to Hong Kong largely. A piece with supportive foreign commentators and an oped about why US sanctions and attempts at the UNSC are all doomed to fail. http://paper.people.com.cn/rmrb/html/2020-05/31/nw.D110000renmrb_20200531_2-03.htm
Page 4: Mostly focussing on Taiwan, with the 15th anniversary of the anti-secession law. Ma Xiaoguang of the Taiwan affairs office terms the situation complicated & severe; but hey he mentions “peaceful reunification” too. http://paper.people.com.cn/rmrb/html/2020-05/31/nw.D110000renmrb_20200531_2-04.htm + http://paper.people.com.cn/rmrb/html/2020-05/31/nw.D110000renmrb_20200531_3-04.htm
Page 5 to 8 have more details on the national economic and social development plan and the budget. There’s another big story covered, i.e., the Civil Code, which I haven’t looked at.
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