中國習近平在與阿里巴巴馬雲等商界領袖的會晤中承諾保持政策穩定

Recently Yahoo News on-line picked up the following:

China's Xi promises policy stability at meeting with business leaders, including Alibaba's Jack Ma

Huizhong Wu

Mon, February 17, 2025 at 6:56 a.m. PST·3 min read

The Associated Press

BANGKOK (AP) — China's President Xi Jinping met with private sector business leaders on Monday, offering them assurances that policies regarding the private sector would not change, state media reported, as government officials work to revive an economy disrupted by a pandemic, regulatory crackdowns and a real estate crisis.

Among those present was Alibaba founder Jack Ma, who was part of a focus on a crackdown on the tech industry in recent years.

Xi told the audience that the Communist Party and the government's approach towards the private sector has been incorporated into “the socialist system with Chinese characteristics," which is how the party describes its governance, according to state broadcaster CCTV. “They cannot and will not change,” said Xi.

The president also said the government would “sincerely protect the legal rights of private businesses and entrepreneurs, according to the law.” But, “at the same time, we must realize that our country is a socialist country ruled by law, and any type of illegal activities by enterprises cannot avoid investigation and punishment.”

The words of assurance were made after Beijing launched a crackdown on the tech sector in 2020 to break down monopolies and implement strict data regulations.

One of the most public faces of that crackdown was Ma, who founded e-commerce firm Alibaba in the 1990s and was once China’s richest man. He has kept a low profile with few public appearances in recent years after he publicly criticized China’s regulators and financial systems during a speech in Shanghai.

Other business leaders at Monday's meeting in Beijing were Zeng Yuqun, the chairman of battery developer CATL, Wang Chuanfu, chairman of electric cars manufacturer BYD, and Pony Ma, the CEO of Tencent, which owns WeChat, according to a video of the meeting from state broadcaster CCTV and a state media report.

Xi said he hoped private businesses will continue to “get rich first, and then promote common prosperity,” a reference to a program to encourage development and close the wealth gap. Alibaba previously pledged $15.5 billion to the cause, while Tencent pledged $7.7 billion.

Earlier on Monday, a two-paragraph report about the meeting which originally had been carried by state media was subsequently deleted. Instead, a search online revealed a shorter state media statement which had cut out the names of those present.

A later readout of the meeting carried Xi's speech, and mentioned the names of some of those present, but not Ma.

Ma, one of the wealthiest men in the country, gave a speech in Oct 2020 in which he said regulators were too conservative. The government responded by scuttling his plans for Ant Group 's stock market debut. The finance-focused business grew out of Alipay, the popular digital payments system. It then forced Ant Group to restructure, dividing it into multiple independent businesses.

Alibaba was also investigated and fined $2.8 billion for breaching antitrust rules.

Translation

中國習近平在與阿里巴巴馬雲等商界領袖的會晤中承諾保持政策穩定

曼谷（美聯社）— 據官方媒體報道，中國國家主席習近平周一會見了私營企業領袖，向他們保證私營企業的政策不會改變，目前政府官員正在努力重振因疫情、監管打擊和房地產危機而受到破壞的經濟。

出席者包括阿里巴巴創辦人馬雲，他是近年來打擊科技業行動的重點對象人士之一。

據中央電視台報道，習近平告訴出席人士，共產黨和政府對待私營部門的方針已經融入“中國特色社會主義制度”，這是共產黨對其治理的描述。習近平說：“這些變化不可能改變，也不會改變。”

主席也表示，政府將「依法切實保護私人企業和企業家的合法權益」。但“同時也要認識到，我國是社會主義法治國家，企業的任何違法行為都逃脫不了查處。”

中國政府在 2020 年對科技業展開打擊行動，以打破壟斷並實施嚴格的資料監管後，做出了這樣的保證。

那次打擊行動中最受關注的人物之一是馬雲，他於 1990 年代創立了電子商務公司阿里巴巴，曾是中國首富。自從在上海發表演說公開批評中國的監管機構和金融體係以來，他近年來一直保持低調，很少公開露面。

根據國營中央電視台和官方媒體報道的會議影片，週一在北京舉行的會議的其他商界領袖還包括電池開發商 CATL 董事長曾氍群、電動車製造商比亞迪董事長王傳承以及微信所有者騰訊執行長馬化騰。

習近平表示，他希望私人企業繼續 “先富起來，然後促進共同富裕”，這是一項鼓勵發展、縮小貧富差距的計劃。阿里巴巴先前已承諾為該事業捐款 155 億元，而騰訊則承諾捐款 77 億元。

週一早些時候，全國媒體最初刊登的兩段關於此次會議的報告報道隨後被刪除。相反，透過網路搜索，你會看到一份較短的官方媒體聲明，其中刪去了與會者的姓名。

隨後的會議記錄中刊登了習近平的講話，並提到了一些與會人員的名字，但沒有提到馬雲。

馬雲是中國最富有的人之一，他在 2020 年 10 月發表演講，表示監管機構過於保守。政府對他的回應是打沉了螞蟻集團上市的計劃。該以金融為重點的業務源自於流行的數位支付系統支付寶。隨後，這迫使螞蟻集團進行重組，將其分拆為多個獨立的業務。

阿里巴巴還因違反反壟斷規則而受到調查並被罰款 28 億元。

So, Xi tells the audience that the Communist Party and the government's approach towards the private sector has been incorporated into “the socialist system with Chinese characteristics."  Xi says that “They cannot and will not change”. I am wondering whether these words can bring back the confidence of the private sectors.

The reason why the giant meteorite that boiled the oceans when it collided with Earth 3.2 billion years ago is called the "fertilizer bomb" (2/2)

 Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

３２億年前の地球衝突で海を沸騰させた巨大隕石、「肥料爆弾」と呼ばれる理由とは (2/2)

2025.02.07 Fri posted at 20:00 JST

(continue)

しかし、深海の状況は海上とは異なっていた。津波で鉄などの成分が巻き上げられ、海面に浮上した。また浸食により、沿岸のごみが洗い流され、隕石に含まれていたリンが放出された。実験室での分析から、隕石の衝突直後に鉄やリンを栄養源とする単細胞生物が急増したことが分かっている。

ドラボン氏によると、生命体は急速に回復し、その後繁栄したという。

ドラボン氏は「隕石の衝突前も、海には多少の生物は生息していたが、それほど多くはなかった。これは、浅海で栄養素や鉄のような電子供与体が不足していたためだ」と述べ、さらに次のように続けた。

「しかし、隕石の衝突でリンなどの重要な栄養素が世界規模で放出された。ある学生はこの衝突を『肥料爆弾』と表現した。全体的に見ると、これは地球上の初期生命体の進化にとって非常に良いニュースだ。なぜなら、生命の進化の初期段階では隕石の衝突が現在よりもはるかに頻繁に起こっていたからだ」

 

衝突の影響はさまざま

Ｓ２と小惑星チクシュルーブの衝突は、異なる結果をもたらしたが、これは隕石の大きさや、衝突時の地球の環境の違いによるものだ、とドラボン氏は説明する。

チクシュルーブ衝突体は、地球の炭酸塩プラットフォームに衝突し、大気中に硫黄を放出した。この硫黄がエアロゾルを形成し、地表の気温を急激かつ極端に低下させた。

そして、どちらの衝突でも、多くの生命体が死滅したが、Ｓ２の衝突の後、浅瀬に生息する太陽光依存型の頑強な微生物は、海が再び満たされ、塵が沈んだ後、急速に回復しただろうとドラボン氏は推測する。

ドラボン氏は、「Ｓ２衝突時の生命ははるかにシンプルだった」とし、「朝、歯を磨くと、口の中の細菌を９９．９％除去できるかもしれないが、夕方までに元に戻っている」と付け加えた。

Translation

The giant meteorite that boiled the oceans when it collided with Earth 3.2 billion years ago: why it's called a "fertilizer bomb" (2/2)

2025.02.07 Fri posted at 20:00 JST

(continue)

However, the situation in the deep sea was different from that above the sea. The tsunami stirred up elements such as iron and brought them to the surface. Erosion also washed away coastal trash, releasing the phosphorus contained in the meteorite. Laboratory analysis has shown that immediately after the meteorite's impact, single-celled organisms that used iron and phosphorus as a source of nutrition rapidly increased.

According to Drabon, the life that was formed recovered quickly and then thrived.

"Even before the meteorite's impact, there were some organisms in the ocean, but not many. This was because in shallow waters there was a shortage of nutrients and electron donors such as iron," Dravon said, and continued:

"But the impact released important nutrients, such as phosphorus, on a global scale. One student described the impact as a 'fertilizer bomb.' Overall, this is very good news for the evolution of early life on Earth. That's because meteorite impacts were much more frequent in the early stages of the evolution of life than they are today."

Different impact effects

The impacts of S2 and the Chicxulub asteroid had different outcomes, due to the size of the meteorites and the different environments on Earth at the time of impact, Drabon explained.

The Chicxulub impactor struck the Earth's carbonate platform, releasing sulfur into the atmosphere. This sulfur formed aerosols that caused a sudden and extreme drop in surface temperatures.

And while many life forms were killed in both impacts, Drabon speculated that after the S2 impact, the tough, sunlight-dependent microorganisms that lived in shallow waters would have recovered quickly after the oceans refilled and the dust sank.

"Life was by far much simpler when the S2 hit," Dravon said, adding, "Brushing your teeth in the morning might remove 99.9 percent of the bacteria in your mouth, but by the evening it's all back."

              So, according to the latest theory, the impacts of S2 and the Chicxulub asteroid had different outcomes, due to the size of the meteorites and the different environments on Earth at the time of impact. While many life forms were killed in both impacts, scientists speculate that after the S2 impact, the microbes living in shallow waters could recover quickly, and single-celled organisms that use iron and phosphorus as a source of nutrition rapidly increased. Apparently, S2 has turned an important chapter in the development of life on earth.

The reason why the giant meteorite that boiled the oceans when it collided with Earth 3.2 billion years ago is called the "fertilizer bomb" (1/2)

Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

３２億年前の地球衝突で海を沸騰させた巨大隕石、「肥料爆弾」と呼ばれる理由とは (1/2)

2025.02.07 Fri posted at 20:00 JST

  （ＣＮＮ） 今から３０億年以上前、エベレスト山四つ分の大きさと推定される巨大な隕石（いんせき）が地球に衝突した。研究によると、その衝撃は、意外にも地球上の初期の生命体にとって有益だった可能性があるという。

通常、巨大な隕石が地球に衝突すると、その衝撃は壊滅的被害をもたらす。６６００万年前、現在のメキシコのユカタン半島沖に幅約１０キロの小惑星が衝突したことにより、恐竜が絶滅した。

しかし、３２億６０００万年前、恐竜を絶滅に追い込んだ小惑星チクシュルーブの５０～２００倍の質量と推定されるＳ２と呼ばれる隕石が地球に衝突した時、地球はまだ若く、現在とは全く異なる場所だった、と語るのは、ハーバード大学の地球惑星科学助教ナジャ・ドラボン氏だ。

ドラボン氏は、Ｓ２隕石の衝突とその後の影響について詳述した研究論文の主執筆者でもあり、同論文は先ごろ学術誌「米国科学アカデミー紀要（ＰＮＡＳ）」に掲載された。

「（Ｓ２隕石の衝突時は）まだ複雑な生命は形成されておらず、細菌や古細菌といった単細胞生物だけが存在していた」とドラボン氏は述べ、さらに次のように続けた。

「おそらく、当時の海にも生命は存在していただろうが、栄養分が不足していたこともあり、その数は現在ほど多くはなかっただろう。始生代の海を「生物学的砂漠」と表現する人もいる。始生代の地球は、ごくわずかな島が浮かんでいるだけの水の惑星だった。鉄分を豊富に含む緑色の海が広がり、奇妙な光景だったことだろう」

Ｓ２隕石の衝突は地球全体を混乱に陥れたが、その衝撃でさまざまな成分が放出され、それらが細菌の増殖に寄与した可能性がある、とドラボン氏は指摘する。

隕石衝突の甚大な影響

Ｓ２隕石の地球衝突時の直径は３７～５８キロメートルで、その影響は迅速かつ甚大だったとドラボン氏は語る。

津波が地球全体を襲い、衝突によって生じた熱は強烈で、海の表層が沸騰し、蒸発するほどだった。ドラボン氏によると、海水が沸騰・蒸発すると、衝突直後の岩石に見られるような塩分が形成されたという。

衝突によって大気中に放出された塵（ちり）により、衝突から数時間以内に地球の反対側でも空が暗くなった。大気の温度は上昇し、厚い塵の雲が日光を遮り、微生物は日光をエネルギーに転換できなくなった。陸上や浅水域に生息する生物は、衝突の直後から悪影響を受け、その影響は数年から数十年にわたって続いたと考えられる。

最終的に降雨によって、海の表層が回復し、塵も海に沈んだ。

(to be continued)

The reason why the giant meteorite that boiled the oceans when it collided with Earth 3.2 billion years ago is called the "fertilizer bomb" (1/2)

2025.02.07 Fri posted at 20:00 JST

(CNN) More than 3 billion years ago, a giant meteorite estimated to be four times the size of Mount Everest collided with the Earth. Research suggested that the impact might have been unexpectedly beneficial to early life on Earth.

Usually, when a giant meteorite hit the Earth, the impact would cause devastating damage. Sixty-six million years ago, the dinosaurs became extinct when an asteroid about 10 kilometers wide collided with the coast of what was now the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico.

But when this meteorite known as S2, estimated to be 50 to 200 times the mass of the asteroid Chicxulub that wiped out the dinosaurs, struck Earth 3.26 billion years ago, the planet was young and a place very different from now, said Nadja Drabon, an assistant professor of earth and planetary sciences at Harvard University.

Drabon, the lead author of a study detailing the impact and aftermath of the S2 meteorite, recently published the study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

Drabon continued to say, "(When the S2 meteorite hit) complex life had not yet formed, only single-celled organisms like bacteria and archaea,":

"There probably was life in the oceans then, but perhaps it wasn't as abundant as it is today due to a lack of nutrients. Some people refer to the Archean oceans as “biological deserts”. The Archean Earth was a water planet with only a few floating islands. It would have been a strange sight, with a green ocean rich in iron spreading out."

The impact of the S2 meteorite threw the entire planet into chaos, but the impact released various components that might have contributed to the growth of bacteria, said Drabon.

The meteorite's enormous impact

The S2 meteorite had a diameter of 37 to 58 kilometers when it hit the Earth, and its impact was swift and severe, said Drabon.

A tsunami hit the entire planet, and the heat generated by the impact was so intense that the surface of the ocean boiled and evaporated. According to Drabon, when the seawater boiled and evaporated, the salt that could be observed was formed on rocks immediately after the impact.

Dust released into the atmosphere by the impact caused the sky to darken on the other side of the Earth within a few hours of the impact. The atmospheric temperature increased, and the thick dust cloud blocked sunlight, preventing microorganisms from converting light into energy. Organisms living on lands and in shallow waters were adversely affected immediately after the impact, with effects likely lasting for years or even decades.

Eventually, rainfall restored the ocean's surface and the dust sank into the sea.

(to be continued)

Japanese government agencies warned about generative AI developed by China's Deepseek

 Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

中国「ディープシーク」開発の生成AI 日本政府機関に注意喚起

2025年2月6日 20時07分

中国の「ディープシーク」が開発した生成AIについて、政府は利用のリスクを十分認識する必要があるとして、政府機関などに対し、利用するかどうかは、内閣官房などの専門部署に助言を求めた上で判断するよう注意喚起しました。

中国のスタートアップ企業「ディープシーク」が開発した生成AIをめぐっては、政府の個人情報保護委員会が個人情報などのデータには中国の法令が適用されるとして利用には留意が必要だとする見解を公表しています。

これを踏まえて政府のデジタル社会推進会議幹事会は6日、サービスの利用によって生じるリスクを十分認識する必要があるとして、政府機関などに対し、利用するかどうかは内閣官房の「内閣サイバーセキュリティセンター」やデジタル庁に助言を求めた上で判断するよう文書で注意喚起しました。

林官房長官は記者会見で「政府の対応方針を徹底する観点から文書を出した。AIに関する諸課題については引き続き関係省庁や専門機関が連携し情報収集などを行っていく」と述べました。

Translation

Japanese government agencies warned about generative AI developed by China's Deepseek

The government had warned government agencies and other entities to seek advice from specialized departments such as the Cabinet Secretariat before deciding whether to use generative AI developed by China's Deepseek, stating that it was necessary to be fully aware of the risks of using it.

Regarding generative AI developed by Chinese startup Deepseek, the government's Personal Information Protection Commission had published its opinion that personal information and other data were subject to Chinese laws and regulations and caution was required when using it.

In light of this, the government's Digital Society Promotion Council Steering Committee on the 6^th issued a warning in writing to government agencies and other entities to seek advice from the Cabinet Secretariat's “Cyber ​​Security Center” and the Digital Agency before deciding whether to use the service, stating that it was necessary to be fully aware of the risks associated with using the service.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi said at a press conference that "We issued the document with the aim of thoroughly implementing the government's response policy. Relevant ministries and specialized agencies will work together to continue to collect information on various issues related to AI."

So, the Japanese government has warned government agencies and other entities to seek advice from specialized departments before deciding whether to use generative AI developed by China's Deepseek. Apparently, the government worries that sensitive information can be leaked out to China after using Deepseek.