Rumblings in the South China Sea?

Here’s what else you need to know about China today:

Top story: Ottawa is coming under more and more pressure at home to shield Canada’s elections and its critical minerals from Chinese influence. But these are big and complicated tasks that will likely further strain ties with Beijing. Scroll down for a summary or click through for the whole thing.

The Philippines will publicize Chinese actions in the South China Sea as part of its strategy to counter growing acts of aggression. The news comes about a month after a Chinese coast guard ship aimed a military-grade laser at a Philippine vessel to block a resupply mission in disputed waters, temporarily blinding some of its passengers.

Small Taiwanese islands have been cut off from the internet for a month, with many residents struggling to complete everyday tasks, such as paying electricity bills and receiving packages. Two Chinese fishing ships are suspected to have damaged an undersea cable that connected Lienchiang County (Matsu Islands) to Taiwan’s main island. Though no evidence has yet come out to confirm the cause, the event has stoked concern over what might happen if conflict were to ever break out with Beijing.

The U.S. plans to lift COVID testing rules for travelers coming from China on March 10. The move comes a little over two months after U.S. health authorities put the restrictions in place, fearing the surge of virus infections in China and the lack of transparency in the Chinese government’s data after Beijing suddenly axed its COVID-zero policy.

Nearly 40 million person-trips have been made through China’s borders since Beijing dismantled its COVID-zero policy on January 8, a 112.4% increase year-on-year. The rebound in travel also included 122,000 visas and residence permits for foreigners that were issued by immigration agencies around the world, up 33.1%.

Markets in Hong Kong and ADRs in the U.S. took a beating yesterday and today on news from the National People’s Congress that a new national regulatory body will be established under the State Council to regulate the financial industry, and that the Ministry of Science and Technology will restructure. Also out today: New data shows China’s auto exports increased by 78.9% year-on-year in the first two months of the year, amounting to 682,000 units worth 96.83 billion yuan ($13.94 billion), while auto imports decreased by more than 30%, and all car sales are down about 20%. Click through for details in today’s Business briefs from the Chinese media.