Volume 20 Issue 15

Image: A PLA helicopter (possibly a Z-8 transport helicopter) approaches a Chinese civilian semi-submersible vessel for landing and logistical support drills conducted in late August 2020. Media commentary indicated that the pilot acted “under direction of the commander on the ship” (在船上指挥员引导下, zai chuanshang zhihuiyuan yindao xia) in conducting flight operations. (Image source: Kuaibao.qq.com, August 20)

Image: A political cartoon from the PRC state-owned China Daily depicts a reckless Uncle Sam robbing the Statue of Liberty in his rush to target TikTok. (Image source: China Daily, August 3)

Image: Participants taking part in the "Taiwan Strait Passage Study—20 Year Recollection and Exploration Conference” (台湾海峡通道研讨20年回顾与探讨座谈会, Taiwan Haixia Tongdao Yantao 20 Nian Huigu yu Tantao Zuotanhui) hosted by Tsinghua University (January 7, 2019). (Image source: Tsinghua University, January 14, 2019).

Image: PRC Ambassador to the United Kingdom Liu Xiaoming (right) speaking on a BBC news program, July 19. Liu’s comments were measured in tone, but reflected the more assertive posture in public diplomacy adopted by PRC diplomats over the past year. Among other comments, Liu stated that “You've seen what happened between China and the United States... I do not want to see this tit for tat between China and the U.S. happen in China-U.K. relations. I think the U.K. should have its own independent foreign policy rather than to dance to the tune of Americans, like what happened to Huawei.” (Image source: PRC Foreign Ministry, July 20)