ZGBriefs | April 7, 2022

Featured Article

Audio:  China locks down most of Shanghai: One resident shares his experience (April 1, 2022, WBUR)
In China, the vast majority of the residents of Shanghai are under lockdown. The government has modified its original plan to shut down each half of the city for four days in order to test the population for COVID-19. Eva Dou,  business and economic correspondent with The Washington Post, joins us. And, Scott Tong speaks with his friend Kent Kedl, who has lived in Shanghai for decades, talks about what he’s experienced during this lockdown.

Government / Politics / Foreign Affairs

Cheng Lei: Australian journalist on trial in China for spy charge (April 1, 2022, BBC)
A Beijing court is holding a closed-door trial for Australian journalist and former TV anchor Cheng Lei, in a high-profile diplomatic case. Ms Cheng is accused of illegally supplying state secrets overseas. Her family maintains she is innocent. The Chinese-born Australian was working for Chinese state media outlet CGTN prior to her detention in August 2020.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam won’t seek second term (April 4, 2022, BBC)
Hong Kong’s leader Carrie Lam announced she would not seek a second term in office after a controversial tenure that has seen many of the territory’s civil freedoms eroded. As chief executive, Ms Lam oversaw a turbulent period where massive pro-democracy protests led to greater Chinese control in Hong Kong. Ms Lam, 64, was Beijing’s handpicked choice entering office in 2017.

Religion

Chinese Christians Pray following the China Eastern Airlines Crash (March 29, 2022, Chinese Church Voices)
China’s commercial airlines have not had a major disaster in recent years and so this has drawn the attention of people both inside and outside of China. Christians in China have responded to the tragedy with prayer. This article from the China Christian Daily shares some of those prayers with us.

The Princess Bride and Ramadan (April 1, 2022, ChinaSource Blog)
If you’ve ever read or seen The Princess Bride, there’s a character who basically responds to every assertion the other characters make with “Inconceivable!”

The Testimony of a Seeker (April 5, 2022, Chinese Church Voices)
I still remember that in elementary school, I would often go to church with my mom or grandma. I would sleep on the long pews in the church sanctuary, or I would run outside and buy snacks at the food stands next door. Whenever I look back on these memories I feel happy because they were bright spots of color in the midst of studying.

Society / Life

Drone footage shows deserted Shanghai as city remains in lockdown – video (April 4, 2022, The Guardian)
Covid-19 cases in China’s most populous city of Shanghai have risen again as millions remain isolated at home under a sweeping lockdown. Drone footage shows the usually bustling city empty of people and traffic. 

Unsung Heroes: Shanghai’s Delivery Workers (April 4, 2022, Sixth Tone)
Thousands of delivery workers have served as a lifeline to keep the city running amid the virus surge.

A voice from old Shanghai under COVID lockdown (April 6, 2022, Sup China)
Shanghai residents are seething under strict COVID-19 lockdowns that have left many imprisoned in their apartments without food. A video of one old man’s complaints that went viral gives an idea of the depth of discontent that some Shanghainese people are feeling.

The Sound of Chinese Migrant Worker Writers (April 6, 2022, Sixth Tone)
Three Chinese migrant worker writers share their lives and poems.

Economics / Trade / Business

Shanghai’s ‘grim’ Covid outbreak threatens more global supply chain disruption (April 6, 2022, The Guardian)
Lockdowns imposed over China’s worst Covid outbreak has hit manufacturing and may lead to delays and higher prices.

History / Culture

Theodore White’s reporting of famine in Henan saved lives (March 31, 2022, Sup China)
This week marks the anniversary of journalist Theodore White’s reporting on the 1942-1944 famine in Henan, which helped spur greater relief for people in this inland province. 

A Mongol siege, the Black Death, and the end of two dynasties (April 6, 2022, Sup China)
This Week in China’s History looks back to a much earlier siege at the other end of the Eurasian landmass, with a very different result: the Mongol siege of Kaifeng.

Arts / Entertainment / Media

Found: A Film Review (April 6, 2022, ChinaSource Blog)
Found, a documentary directed by Amanda Lipitz, centers around the lives of three American teenage girls, all of whom were adopted from China. Upon discovering that they are long-lost cousins, they embark on a journey to learn about their birth families.

Hit Chinese Series ‘A Lifelong Journey’ Coming to Disney+ (April 6, 2022, Radii China)
In an attempt to expand its Asian content operations, Disney+ acquired the rights to introduce the popular Chinese series to an international audience.

Language / Language Learning

Numbers Interpreting Practice (Chinese and English) (April 4, 2022, Carl Gene’s Blog)
Being able to interpret large numbers on the fly is an essential skill for any Mandarin/English interpreter. You can use these materials to work to practice interpreting Chinese numbers into English, and English numbers into Chinese.

Living Cross-culturally

A Positive Legacy in China (March 30, 2022, ChinaSource Blog)
While insensitive cross-cultural work has often resulted in closed doors or deportation, sensitive and authentic cross-cultural work has time and again won over the hearts of the Chinese people. 

Books

What Tim Keller Learned from Chinese Christians – Book: ‘Faith in the Wilderness’ edited by Hannah Nation and Simon Liu  (March 30, 2022, The Gospel Coalition)
But to get desperately needed perspective, we must listen to the voices of believers in parts of the world where the opposition is much more pervasive and often takes the form of violence. 

Pray for China

On April 7 (Pray for China: A Walk Through History)
On Apr. 7, 2014, local government officials in Wenzhou and the registered Sanjiang Church (三江基督教会) reached an agreement to reduce the size of the church property. However, later in the month, the entire building was demolished as part of a campaign that saw over 1,000 crosses removed or church structures demolished. Pray for Christians in Wenzhou to wait upon the Lord and to make His name and remembrance the desire of their souls. In the path of your judgments, O Lord, we wait for you; your name and remembrance are the desire of our soul. Isaiah 26:8