China’s Invasive Surveillance

A New York Times analysis found that China’s collection of digital and biological data from its citizens is more expansive and invasive than previously known.

More:

“Four Takeaways From a Times Investigation Into China’s Expanding Surveillance State,” Isabelle Qian, Muyi Xiao, Paul Mozur and Alexander Cardia, New York Times

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Year of the Rabbit

Happy Lunar New Year (Spring Festival). It’s the Year of the Rabbit in China, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Korea, but the Year of the Cat in Vietnam. Either way, the holday lasts until the Lantern Festival on February 5th. If that’s not enough partying for you, the Mongolian Lunar New Year is February 21st (same for Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, and parts of India). It’s the Year of the Rabbit (“Water Hare”) there, too.

More:

“Lunar New Year: What to expect as we hop into the Year of the Rabbit,” Adela Suliman, Washington Post

“From Chinese to Tibetan, all the most delicious Lunar New Year dishes explained,” Eileen Cho, NBC News

“While many ring in the Year of the Rabbit, Vietnam celebrates the cat,”Suzanne Nuyen, NPR News

“All you need to know about the Year of the Rabbit,” Brian Wang, South China Morning Post

Note: Japan hasn’t celebrated Lunar New Year since 1873.

Update:

“For the first time, the White House celebrates the Lunar New Year,” Simon Druker, UPI

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Top Image (“Lunar Year of the Rabbit, after Georges-Louis Leclerc”) by Mike Licht. Download a copy here. Creative Commons license; credit Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com

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The Romans Stole Silk Secrets from China

Emperor Justinian I helped Romans steal the secrets of silk production from China. Industrial espionage in classical times. A video animation by Kings and Generals.

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Deng Xiaoping at the Rodeo

China’s Vice-Premier Deng Xiaoping visited a rodeo in Simonton Texas, in 1979. He got a Stetson, and a couple of prize bulls. But that’s not all. Phil Edwards explains.

More:

“How a 10-gallon hat helped heal relations between China and America,” Adam Taylor, Washington Post

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Mao’s Big Swim

After announcing his Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution in 1966, Mao Zedong swam across the Yangtze River. Mao had done that 10 years earlier, to prove his vitality, and he hoped it would work again. A Vox video.

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The Chinese Bagel That Helped Win a War

Guang Bing (光餅) look like bagels, but they were strategic in helping General Qi Jiguang win a war 500 years ago. A Great Big Story video.

More:

“The Chinese Bagel That Helped to Win a War,” Lizzie Philip, Atlas Obscura

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New Diseases Come In From the Wild

COVID-19 was bound to happen. A Vox video.

Related:

“From Bats to Human Lungs, the Evolution of a Coronavirus,” Carolyn Kormann, The New Yorker

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Belt & Road

China’s Belt and Road Initiative is an infrastructure project that spans over 60 countries, and will cost over a trillion dollars. The plan is to make it easier for the world to trade with China, by funding roads, railways, bridges, tunnels, and pipelines in Asia and Africa. A Vox video by Sam Ellis.

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Serving Tea in Chengdu

Long-spout teapot performance, Chendu, Sichuan Province, China.

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Trump Tariffs to Cause Bible Shortage

President Donald Trump is waging a trade war with China, but most of America’s Bibles are printed there, so publishers warn of a Bible shortage if the next round of tariffs goes through. The U.S. imports some 150 million Bibles from China each year, where they’re printed on ultra-thin paper subject to a proposed 25 percent tariff. Maybe American Christians can substutute copies of The Art of the Deal for the Good Book. Lord knows many of them have done that already.

More:

“Bible shortage? Publishers say tariffs could cause it,” Travis Loller, Associated Press

“A ‘Bible tax’: Christian publishers warn that China tariffs could lead to costly Bibles,” Emily McFarlan Miller, Religion News Service via Washington Post

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Image by Mike Licht. Download a copy here. Creative Commons license; credit Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com

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