Some mid-week, pre-National Day reading 

From China Law Translate, some commentary on China’s Ethnic Unity Law. Includes links to general background…

…the impact of these … principles is to reduce minority cultures and religion in scope and longevity. The state encourages religious leaders to find the parts of their faiths that affirm mainstream Core Socialist Values and downplay the rest. Religion exists as a temporary nuisance that should exist in a controlled state.

…What is troubling here is not the extraterritorial reach, but the conduct being penalized. As Prof. Clarke points out, the relevant criminal offenses have been stretched to include a wide range of conduct, including speech and religious practice. Countries that place great importance on protecting speech and religious expression are right to be concerned that China might punish individuals for conduct that occurred within their borders. 

Remember Gwadar – the Pakistani port that was supposed to link Western China with the Persian Gulf in true Belt-and-Road fashion? Lowy Interpreter catches up…

Once hailed as China’s ultimate maritime shortcut to bypass the treacherous Malacca Strait, the deep-sea port is rapidly transforming from a geopolitical asset into a financial and security liability as Beijing’s risk appetite diminishes under domestic economic strain. 

…Goods moving from Xinjiang to Gwadar must cross the Karakoram highway, navigating altitudes of over 4,600 metres. The area is plagued by frequent landslides, avalanches, and extreme weather, rendering it structurally incapable of handling the high-volume container traffic required to replace maritime shipping.

Once past the mountains, the route cuts through Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan. Convoys must pass through territories marked by intense sectarian violence, Taliban activity, and deep-seated local insurgencies.

Preparing to move and clearing out refrigerator. Not a stickler for sell-by dates – but eewwww. Will spare details.