馬來西亞抗議中國船隻進入其水域

Recently Yahoo News on-line reported the following:

Malaysia protests presence of Chinese vessels in its waters

Mon., October 4, 2021, 6:34 p.m.

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia summoned the Chinese ambassador to Kuala Lumpur on Monday to express its protest against the "encroachment" into its waters by Beijing's vessels, the foreign ministry said.

The protest was over the "presence and activities" of Chinese vessels, including a survey vessel, in Malaysia's Exclusive Economic Zone off the coasts of the eastern states of Sabah and Sarawak, the ministry said in a statement on Monday.

It did not say when the vessels were detected in Malaysian waters.

"Malaysia's consistent position and actions are based on international law, in defence of our sovereignty and sovereign rights in our waters," the foreign ministry said.

The Chinese embassy in Kuala Lumpur did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Last week, media reported that a Chinese survey vessel was in Malaysian waters off the coast of Sabah, near a vessel commissioned by Malaysian state energy firm Petronas.

Malaysia's foreign ministry also said that all matters related to the South China Sea must be resolved peacefully and constructively.

"In determining Malaysia's position and course of action with regard to the South China Sea issue, which is complex and involves inter-State relations, Malaysia's national interests will remain of paramount importance," it said.

China claims almost all of the energy-rich South China Sea, through which about $3 trillion worth of ship-borne trade passes annually.

Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam have overlapping claims.

The Philippines and Vietnam have accused China of harassing fishermen and energy activities in South China Sea waters.

(Reporting by A. Ananthalakshmi and Rozanna Latiff; Editing by Himani Sarkar)

Translation

吉隆坡（路透社）- 外交部表示，馬來西亞週一召見了中國駐吉隆坡大使，以表達對北京船隻“侵入”其水域的抗議。

該部周一在一份聲明中表示，抗議是針對包括一艘調查船在內的中國船隻在東部沙巴州和砂拉越州沿海的馬來西亞專屬經濟區的“出現和活動”。

它沒有說明何時在馬來西亞水域發現這些船隻。

外交部表示：“馬來西亞的一貫立場和行動基於國際法，以捍衛我們的主權和在我們水域的主權權利。”

中國駐吉隆坡大使館沒有立即回應置評請求。

上週，媒體報導說，一艘中國調查船在沙巴海岸附近的馬來西亞水域，靠近馬來西亞國家能源公司委託的Petronas的一艘船。

馬來西亞外交部還表示，所有與南海有關的問題都必須和平、建設性地解決。

它說, “在確定馬來西亞在復雜且涉及國家間關係的南海問題上的立場和行動方針時，馬來西亞的國家利益仍將是最重要的”。

中國對能源豐富的南海聲稱擁有幾乎所有主權，每年約有値3 萬億美元的船載貿易通過該海域。

中國主權擁有主張同馬來西亞、文萊、菲律賓、台灣和越南有重疊。

菲律賓和越南指責中國在南海海域騷擾漁民和能源活動。

               So, Malaysia protests against the "encroachment" by Chinese vessels into its waters. It seems that it was a Chinese survey vessel this time and not fishing boats.

儘管價格創歷史新高，但中國買家仍尋求增加冬季液化天然氣進口

Recently Yahoo News on-line reported the following:

Chinese buyers seek to boost LNG imports for winter despite record prices

Fri., October 1, 2021, 12:15 a.m.

By Jessica Jaganathan

SINGAPORE, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Chinese buyers are seeking more liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes despite record prices, bidding above market rates as the winter season starts with the country's gas inventory low, several trade sources told Reuters.

China, which has this year overtaken Japan as the world's top buyer of the super-chilled fuel, is grappling with its worst power outages in years in the northeast, triggered by coal shortages.

This in turn is pushing up demand for natural gas in power generation as Beijing orders energy and power companies to ensure sufficient supplies to avoid outages during winter when heating supply is crucial, the sources said.

"Chinese buyers have been asking and buying cargoes for winter and have been indicating prices at above market rates," a Singapore-based LNG trader said.

"In this market, there is no choice except to pay up to secure cargoes."

Spot Asian LNG prices surged to a record high of $34.47 per million British thermal units (mmBtu) on Thursday, up more than 500% from the same period last year.

Typically, when spot prices surge, price-sensitive Chinese buyers would shun buying from spot market. But last week, Unipec, the trading arm of China's Sinopec, sought 11 LNG cargoes for winter and likely bought more than it required, traders said.

The state energy firm said on Thursday that it planned to import 13.3 billion cubic metres (bcm) of LNG this winter - about 9% higher than imports last winter - to operate its existing terminals at full capacity, and accelerate adding gas storage by the end of October.

Other Chinese majors including China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) and PetroChina are also seeking cargoes to be delivered in winter, several trade sources said.

Gas inventory in China is at below average levels at some terminals, one trader said, citing private industry data, which is also stoking fears of further supply crunch within China.

However, the sharp spike in prices is keeping second-tier gas importers - which are mostly city-gas firms - at bay, the traders added.

With international gas prices currently about double domestic ones, these firms risk making huge losses when they sell to domestic consumers, they said.

To mitigate losses, China's finance ministry said on Thursday it will speed up approvals for value-added tax rebates on natural gas imports, to help boost winter energy supplies.

The potential financial risk could also be driving Chinese state majors to step up and procure cargoes to ensure there is enough supply during winter and ahead of the Winter Olympics to be held in February, they added.

CNOOC earlier this week signed a long-term deal with Qatar Petroleum, with supplies expected to start in January, which may also help meet demand.

Spot prices started surging during summer in the northern hemisphere amid hot weather and competition from Europe for LNG as gas inflows to the region slowed due to maintenance.

Buyers in Asia, including China, had kept purchases at a minimum hoping prices would drop in the off-peak season of September-October, but that never happened.

"China definitely does not have enough gas for winter. The question is whether this is going to cause demand destruction in the form of more power cuts," a Singapore-based trader said.

Translation

(路透新) 加坡 10 月 1 日 - 幾位貿易消息人士告訴路透，隨著冬季開始，及中國天然氣庫存較低, 所以儘管價格創紀錄, 中國買家仍出價高於市場價格, 在尋求更多液化天然氣 (LNG) 。

中國今年已超過日本成為世界上超級冷凍燃料的最大買家，但由於煤炭短缺引發了東北地區多年來最嚴重停電問題, 正在努力應對。

消息人士稱，這反過來又推高了對天然氣發電的需求，因為北京要求能源和電力公司確保充足的供應，以避免在供暖至關重要的冬季停電。

一位新加坡液化天然氣貿易商表示,“中國買家一直在詢問和購貨買給冬季使用，並一直標示出價高於市場的價格” 。

“在這個市場上，除了付款以保證貨物之外別無選擇。”

亞洲液化天然氣現貨價格週四飆升至每百萬英熱單位 (mmBtu) 34.47 美元的歷史新高，較去年同期上漲 500% 以上。

通常，當現貨價格飆升時，對價格敏感的中國買家會避免從現貨市場購買。但交易商稱，上週，中國石化的貿易部門聯合石化Unipec尋求 11 批冬季 LNG 船貨，而且採購量可能超出了必須要求。

這家國家能源公司週四表示，計劃在今年冬天進口 133 億立方米 (bcm) 的液化天然氣 - 比去年冬天的進口量高出約 9% - 以用盡行其現有港口負荷，並在十月底前加速增加天然氣儲存。

幾位貿易消息人士稱，包括中國海洋石油總公司 (CNOOC) 和中石油在內的其他中國大型石油公司也在尋求冬季交付的貨物。

一位貿易商援引私營行業數據稱，中國一些碼頭的天然氣庫存低於平均水平，這也引發了中國對進一步供應緊縮的擔憂。

然而，交易員補充說，價格的急劇飆升使二線天然氣進口商 - 主要是城市燃氣公司 - 望而卻步。

他們說，由於國際天然氣價格目前約為國內價格的兩倍，這些公司在向國內消費者出售天然氣時,可能會蒙受巨大損失。

為減輕損失，中國財政部周四表示，將加快批准天然氣進口增值稅退稅，以幫助增加冬季能源供應。

他們補充說，潛在的財務風險也可能促使中國國有大型企業加緊採購貨物，以確保在冬季和 2 月舉行的冬奧會之前有足夠的供應。

中海油本週早些時候與卡塔爾石油公司簽署了一項長期協議，預計將於 1 月開始供應，這也可能有助於滿足需求。

在炎熱的北半球的夏季天氣裡, 歐洲對液化天然氣的競爭購中, 及因為保養維修，輸入該地區的天然氣放緩, 現貨價格亦開始飆升。

包括中國在內的亞洲買家通常將採購量保持在最低水平，希望在 9 月至 10 月的淡季期間價格會下降，但這沒有發生。

一位新加坡貿易商表示 ,“中國絕對沒有足夠的冬天用氣。問題是它是否會以更多停電的形式去打退需求” 。

So, China this year has overtaken Japan as the world's top buyer of the super-chilled fuel. It is grappling with its worst power outages in years in the northeast that is triggered by coal shortages. I am interested in knowing how China will handle the situation in the long run.

美國計劃在拉丁美洲開展項目以對抗中國的“一帶一路”

Recently Yahoo New on-line reported the following:

U.S. plans projects in Latin America countering China's Belt and Road

Mon., September 27, 2021, 2:00 a.m.

By Trevor Hunnicutt

WASHINGTON, Sept 27 (Reuters) - U.S. officials are set to tour Latin America this week to scout infrastructure projects as they prepare a counter to Chinese President Xi Jinping's multi-trillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative.

A delegation of diplomatic and development officials led by President Joe Biden's Deputy National Security Adviser Daleep Singh is in Colombia, where they plan to meet President Ivan Duque, before stops later in the week to Ecuador and Panama, U.S. officials said.

The group is tasked with turning Build Back Better World (B3W), the international infrastructure investment initiative announced by the Group of Seven richest democracies in June, into reality. It's the first of several planned "listening tours."

In addition to meeting with Duque, Ecuadorean President Guillermo Lasso, and Panamanian officials, the trip will allow U.S. officials to speak with the private sector, civil society and "traditionally marginalized groups," officials said.

The program is focused on areas including climate, health, digital technology and gender equality, officials have said.

A formal U.S. B3W launch event is planned for early next year that will include details of some initial projects aimed at narrowing the $40 trillion needed by developing nations by 2035, according to a senior Biden administration official. It is not yet decided how much capital the program will ultimately allocate.

In just over a month, U.S. officials also plan to huddle with allies at the Group of 20 rich countries and COP26 climate change conferences in Europe, which China is also set to attend. Conversations will continue at Biden's planned Summit for Democracy in December.

China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which Xi launched in 2013, involves development and investment initiatives stretching worldwide. More than 100 countries have signed agreements with China to cooperate in BRI projects like railways, ports and highways.

"Very few of the projects make economic sense and they often have very poor labor and environmental standards," the Biden administration official said. (Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Sam Holmes)

Translation

路透華盛頓9月27日 - 美國官員本週將前往拉丁美洲考察基礎設施項目，以應對中國國家主席習近平耗資數万億美元的“一帶一路”倡議。

美國官員說，由喬·拜登總統的副國家安全顧問Daleep Sing率領的外交和發展官員代表團正在哥倫比亞與總統Ivan Duque會面，然後在本週晚些時候前往厄瓜多爾和巴拿馬。

該小組的任務是將七國集團最富有的民主國家, 在 6 月所宣布的國際基礎設施投資倡議“重建更美好的世界”(B3W) 變為現實。這是計劃裡幾次“聆聽之旅”中的第一次。

官員們說，除了會見Duque、厄瓜多爾總統Guillermo Lass和巴拿馬官員外，這次訪問還將讓美國官員與私營部門、民間社會和“傳統邊緣化群體”交談。

官員們表示，該計劃側重於氣候、健康、數字技術和性別平等等領域。

拜登政府一位高級官員表示，美國計劃於明年初舉行正式的 B3W 啟動活動，其中將包括一些旨在到 2035 年縮小發展中國家所需的 40 萬億美元的初始項目的細節。目前尚未決定該計劃將最終需要分配多少資金。

在短短一個多月後，美國官員還計劃在 20 國集團和歐洲 COP26 氣候變化會議上與盟友擠在一起，中國也將參加。對話將繼續於拜登計劃中在 12 月舉行的民主峰會上進行。

習近平於2013年提出的“一帶一路”倡議涉及全球範圍內的發展和投資倡議，已有100多個國家與中國簽署了在鐵路、港口和公路等“一帶一路”項目上合作的協議。

拜登政府官員說：“那些項目很少具有經濟意義，而且它們的功夫和環境標准通常很差。”

       So, the Americana will send out a group that is tasked with turning Build Back Better World (B3W) into reality. It is an international infrastructure investment initiative announced by the Group of Seven. Let’s wait and see how this project will be played out.

What is a nuclear submarine and how does it work? Explaining Australia's military ambitions (2/2)

Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

原子力潜水艦とは何か、その仕組みは？　豪州の軍事的野心を解説 

2021.09.25 Sat posted at 12:00 JST

(continue)

弾道ミサイル潜水艦

米英のブーマーには、複数の核弾頭を積んだトライデント弾道ミサイルが搭載されている。その任務は本質的に、ほとんどの時間を潜航しながら数カ月連続で海中にとどまり、敵の核攻撃に対して報復攻撃を実施する備えをしておくことにある。

弾道ミサイル潜水艦は水中での静粛性が高く、発見は極めて難しい。抑止力の要となる存在であり、米英の敵国が核による第１撃を実施した場合、確実に恐ろしい代償を支払うことになる。

米国の弾道ミサイル潜水艦はそれぞれトライデントを２０基（英国の潜水艦は１６基）搭載しており、１基あたりの弾頭数は８発（英潜水艦は３発）に上る。射程距離は７４００キロ超、核弾頭の出力は１００～４７５キロトンとなっている。

米国は弾道ミサイル潜水艦を１４隻、英国は４隻保有する。オーストラリアが契約するのはこのタイプではない。

オーストラリアが原潜を配備するのはいつ？

原子力潜水艦の開発と配備には多くの時間が必要で、数十年かかる可能性もある。１５日に発表された米英豪３カ国の合意では、どのような建造方法がオーストラリアにとって最適かを検討する期間を１年半しかもうけていない。

オーストラリアのモリソン首相は、新型潜水艦の配備は２０４０年になる可能性があるとの見方を示した。

ただ、米海軍潜水艦の元指揮官で、現在は新アメリカ安全保障センター（ＣＮＡＳ）の研究員を務めるトーマス・シュガート氏によると、オーストラリアはインド太平洋地域における安全保障の状況を踏まえ、もっと早い時期の配備を望んでいる可能性もあるという。

「インド太平洋地域における軍事バランスの後退を考えると、遅くとも２０４０年には配備したいところだ。一方で、たとえ切迫したスピード感で動き、既存の設計や供給業者を多く使ったとしても、約１０年以内に配備されるとは考えにくい」（シュガート氏）

Translation

(continue)

Ballistic missile submarine

The US and UK boomers were equipped with Trident ballistic missiles loaded with multiple nuclear warheads. Its mission was essentially to stay in the sea for several months in a row, diving most of the time, and be prepared to carry out retaliation attacks against enemy nuclear attacks.

Ballistic missile submarines were extremely quiet underwater and extremely difficult to find. It was the cornerstone of deterrence; and if the US and British enemies carried out their first nuclear strike, they would certainly pay a terrifying price.

Each US ballistic missile submarine carries 20 Tridents (16 in British submarines), with eight warheads per unit (three in British submarines). It had a range of over 7,400 kilometers and a nuclear warhead output of 100 to 475 kilotons.

The United States owned 14 ballistic missile submarines and the United Kingdom had four. The Australia contract was not for this type.

When will Australia deploy nuclear submarines?

The development and deployment of nuclear submarines would need a lot of time and could take decades. According to the agreement between the United States, Britain and Australia announced on the 15th, there was only one and a half years to consider what kind of construction method would be the best for Australia.

Australian Prime Minister Morrison said the deployment of the new submarine could be in 2040.

However, according to Thomas Shugart, a former commander of the U.S. Navy submarine and now a researcher at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), given the security situation in the Indo-Pacific region, it was possible that Australia wanted to deployed them earlier.

"Given the recession of military balance in the Indo-Pacific region, we would like to deploy it in 2040 at the latest. On the other hand, even if it moves at an imminent sense of speed and uses many existing designs and suppliers, it is unlikely that it will be deployed within about 10 years. "(Mr. Shugart)

              So, Australia will have its new submarines with the help of the US. It seems that recently Australia is becoming more active politically and militarily in South-east Asia compared with New Zealand.

What is a nuclear submarine and how does it work? Explaining Australia's military ambitions (1/2)

Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

原子力潜水艦とは何か、その仕組みは？　豪州の軍事的野心を解説 

2021.09.25 Sat posted at 12:00 JST

香港（ＣＮＮ） オーストラリアはこのほど、原子力潜水艦の開発に着手することで米英両国と合意した。オーストラリアの潜水艦は米英の最新艦によく似たものになると予想される。

米海軍と英王立海軍は、攻撃型潜水艦と弾道ミサイル潜水艦という２種類の潜水艦を保有する。いずれも動力源は原子炉で、水を高圧蒸気に変えてタービンを回すことで推進する。

ただ、攻撃型潜水艦と弾道ミサイル潜水艦（後者は「ブーマー」と呼ばれることが多い）は大きく異なる目的に使われる。オーストラリアが契約するのは原子力を動力源とする攻撃型潜水艦であって、核弾頭搭載弾道ミサイルで核武装したブーマーではない。

以下では２つの潜水艦の違いを説明する。

 攻撃型潜水艦

オーストラリアが導入を目指す攻撃型潜水艦は米英潜水艦隊の柱となる万能艦だ。

米海軍の概要書の冒頭では、攻撃型潜水艦の開発目的について「敵の潜水艦や水上艦の捜索および破壊、トマホーク巡航ミサイルや特殊作戦部隊（ＳＯＦ）による陸上への戦力投射、情報・監視・偵察（ＩＳＲ）任務の実行、戦闘群の作戦の支援、機雷戦への関与」と説明している。

米国が保有する攻撃型潜水艦５３隻には３つの級（クラス）がある。最新型は１９隻を数えるバージニア級となる。

全長約１１４メートル、排水量８０００トンのバージニア級はトマホーク巡航ミサイルや魚雷を数十発装備する。時速４６キロを超えるスピードで航行し、無限に潜航し続けることが可能。潜航時間の制約となるのは乗組員１３２人への物資補給の必要性のみだ。

ＣＮＮは２０１５年にバージニア級潜水艦「ジョン・ウォーナー」を取材した際、その内部を見学した。

この潜水艦は潜望鏡すら持たず、フォトニクスマスト（高精度の赤外線カメラを含む高度な電子機器）を使って戦場を監視する。情報は司令室の大型スクリーンに表示され、ジョイスティックで全ての画面を操作する。

英国のアスチュート級４隻は米国の潜水艦よりさらに高速で、潜航しながら時速５６キロ以上を出せる。米国のものと同様、トマホーク巡航ミサイルを搭載している。

英王立海軍のウェブサイトによると、「トマホーク４は同ミサイルの最新型となる。以前のトマホークを上回る射程（１６００キロを優に超える）を有し、飛行中に新たな目標に向けて方角を調整したり、母艦となる潜水艦に戦場の画像を送信したりできる」という。

オーストラリアが求めているのは、こうした火力と航続時間だ。同国は北部沖の海域を敵海軍の脅威から保護するとともに、南シナ海へ海軍力を投射して米国と共に中国の影響力をそぎ、「航行の自由」を守ることを目指している。

(to be continue)

Translation

Hong Kong (CNN) - Australia had recently agreed with the United States and the United Kingdom to begin developing a nuclear-powered submarine. Australian submarines were expected to resemble the latest US and British submarines.

The US Navy and the Royal Navy had two types of submarines: attack submarines and ballistic missile submarines. In both cases, the power source was a nuclear reactor, which was propelled by turning water into high-pressure steam and turning a turbine.

However, attack submarines and ballistic missile submarines (the latter are often referred to as "boomers") were used for very different purposes. Australia contracted for nuclear-powered attack submarines, not nuclear-armed boomers with nuclear-warhead-mounted ballistic missiles.

The differences between the two submarines were explained below.

Attack submarine

The attack submarine that Australia was aiming to introduce would be a all-purpose ship and had been the pillar of the US-UK submarine fleet.

At the beginning lines of a U.S. Navy's simple introduction on it, the purpose of developing an attack submarine was "Search and destroy enemy submarines and surface ships, projecting force on land by Tomahawk cruise missiles and by special operations forces (SOF), conducting information-surveillance-reconnaissance (ISR) missions, supporting combat group operations, engaging in mine warfare. "

There were three classes among the 53 attack submarines owned by the United States. The latest model would be the Virginia class, which counted 19 ships.

The Virginia class, which was about 114 meters long and had a displacement of 8,000 tons, was equipped with dozens of Tomahawk cruise missiles and torpedoes. It could sail at speeds exceeding 46 km / h and continue to dive indefinitely. The only limitation on dive time was the need to replenish the 132 crew members.

CNN toured the interior of the Virginia-class submarine "John Warner" during an interview in 2015.

The submarine did not even have a periscope and used a photonics mast (an advanced electronic device including a high-precision infrared camera) to monitor the battlefield. The information was displayed on the large screen of the control room, and screens were wholly operated by the joysticks.

The four British Astute-class submarines were even faster than US submarines and could make more than 56 km / h while diving. Like the US one, they carried the Tomahawk cruise missile.

According to the Royal Navy's website, "The Tomahawk 4 is the latest version of the missile. It has a range that exceeds the previous Tomahawk (well over 1600 km) and can make direction adjustments towards new targets during flight, and can send images of the battlefield to the submarine as the mother ship. "

Australia wanted this kind of firepower and cruising time. The country aimed to protect the waters off the northern coast from the threat of enemy navies, to project naval power into the South China Sea to diminish China's influence together with the United States, and to protect "freedom of navigation."

(to be continued)

中國打壓賭場是澳門轉型的一部分

Recently Yahoo News on-line reported the following:

China’s Casino Crackdown Part of Quest to Transform Macau

Shirley Zhao

Fri., September 24, 2021, 1:58 a.m.

(Bloomberg) -- To many investors, Macau’s push to extend oversight over the world’s largest gambling hub came as a shock, triggering a record selloff in casino shares. To long-term observers, however, it was just the latest move in China’s grand plan to transform the $24 billion economy.

For years, Beijing has been focused on trying to control an industry that’s enriched the only Chinese territory where casinos are legal but also provided an avenue for capital outflows for the country’s rising elite. Authorities have been steadily tightening their grip, with facial-recognition software installed in Macau’s ATMs, cash withdrawals limited, and a digital currency under consideration to better track transactions.

At the same time, the government has been laying the groundwork for the dilution of Macau’s reliance on gambling. Unveiled in 2019, China’s blueprint for the Greater Bay Area -- a region that includes Hong Kong and parts of southern China -- sees the former Portuguese colony departing from its decades-long identity as a casino Mecca to become a global leisure and tourism hub. Think sports stadiums, convention centers and traditional Chinese medicine parks instead of more baccarat tables.

“What the government wants, and what Beijing wants, is to have a lot more non-gaming facilities,” said Allan Zeman, chairman and an independent director of Wynn Macau Ltd., one of the six casino operators with licenses to operate in the enclave. “The border will kind of disappear. Macau will become a much bigger place, so gaming is just one part of a city that will have a lot more.”

Last week’s announcement of revisions to the law governing casinos was one of the most definitive signs yet that there’s no turning back for Beijing.

The proposed changes, which are now up for consultation with the public and industry, came just a week after the Chinese government released a plan to further integrate Macau with the Chinese mainland. The city is being encouraged to develop non-gaming industries in a special zone on the neighboring island of Hengqin -- currently divided between Guangdong province and Macau -- with a focus on high-tech manufacturing, cultural tourism, Chinese medicine, conventions and sports, according to a master plan released by Beijing earlier this month. Gambling won’t be allowed.

The Bloomberg Intelligence index of Macau’s six casino operators has fallen 26% since last Tuesday’s proposal. The market recovered slightly this week, with the index gaining about 1.7%.

Gambling in Macau goes back more than three centuries, with the practice legalized there in 1847 as a way to fill the colonial authority’s coffers. By the late 19th century, gaming taxes had become the government’s main income. For decades the industry was monopolized by a company co-founded by late billionaire Stanley Ho before opening up in 2002 to the current players. Macau eventually surpassed Las Vegas, and today bettors can pose before a fake Eiffel Tower or stroll along replica Venetian canals on its main strip.

But a shift is firmly under way. While still employing one-fifth of the city’s workforce, the gambling industry’s contribution to Macau’s gross domestic product had dropped to 51% before the pandemic hit, from 63% in 2013, according to the latest government data.

The license renewal process for the city’s six casino operators is shaping up to be a key test of Beijing’s pivot. With the permits set to expire in less than 10 months, the government is expected to pressure the firms -- who have seen gaming revenue contribute 85% of overall revenue on average the past three years, according to Bloomberg calculations from company reports -- to boost investment in non-gaming sectors.

Macau’s government will likely nudge casino operators to invest in projects in Hengqin, even if their profit outlook is questionable, given the limitations on expanding further in Macau, said Ben Lee, a managing partner at gambling consultancy IGamiX.

While the casinos have recently been doubling down on luring more so-called mass market bettors, who may spend more time dining out and shopping than at the tables, entire projects separate to the casino business could be more challenging. Convention activities, the ferry service and income from retail accounted for less than 3% of net revenue in 2019 for Sands China Ltd., the largest operator in Macau by gaming revenue.

And they face stiff competition for non-gaming business from elsewhere in the region. Hong Kong -- just a ferry ride away -- has an established convention and exhibition industry and hosts major international events from art festivals to rugby tournaments. The island province of Hainan has also seen a domestic tourism boom due to its tax-free status and wants to develop similar industries.

The revisions to the casino law follow a decade-long crackdown on VIP bettors, said Morningstar Inc. analyst Jennifer Song. Such gamblers attracted Beijing’s wrath because they’re facilitated by junkets which sometimes breach Chinese law by promoting gaming in the mainland, organizing overseas gambling trips and providing shadow banking services to high rollers.

The moves significantly reined in what was once the lifeblood of Macau, Song said. Now, Beijing’s wider plan could have a similar effect on the casino industry overall.

Translation

（彭博社）- 對許多投資者來說，澳門推動擴大監管全球最大賭博中心令人震驚，引發了賭場股票創紀錄的拋售。然而，對於長期觀察人士來說，這只是中國改變 這240 億美元經濟體的宏偉計劃的最新舉措。

多年來，北京一直專注於試圖控制這一個行業，該行業養肥了中國唯一一家合法經營賭場的地區，但也為中國崛起的知名人士提供了資本外流的渠道。當局一直在穩步收緊控制，在澳門的自動取款機上安裝了面部識別軟件，取款受到限制，並且正在考慮使用數字貨幣來更好地跟踪交易。

與此同時，政府一直在為淡化澳門對賭博的依賴奠定基礎。 2019 年公佈的中國大灣區藍圖 - 包括香港和中國南部部分地區 - 看到前葡萄牙殖民地會擺脫其長達數十年的賭場聖地身份，而成為全球休閒和旅遊中心。 它想要體育場館、會議中心和中藥園，而不是更多的百家樂賭桌。

永利澳門有限公司董事長兼獨立董事Allan Zeman說，“政府想要的，以及北京想要的，是擁有更多的非博彩設施”,永利澳門有限公司是六家獲准在澳門經營的賭場運營商之一。“邊界會消失。澳門將成為一個更大的地方，因此博彩只是這座城市的一部分，而這座城市將擁有更多。”

上周宣布修改賭場法是迄今為止最明確的跡象之一，表明北京沒有回頭路。

正在徵求公眾和行業意見的改變現状的提議, 是在中國政府進一步整合澳門與中國大陸的計劃一周後發布的。該市正在被鼓勵在鄰近橫琴島的一個特區發展非博彩業 - 目前橫琴島分割開屬於廣東省和澳門 - 根據北京本月早些時候發布的總體規劃, 重點是高科技製造、文化旅遊、中醫藥、會議和體育。賭博將不被允許。

自上週二的提議以來，澳門六家賭場運營商的彭博資訊指數已下跌 26%。本週市場小幅回升，指數上漲約1.7%。

澳門的賭博可以追溯到三個多世紀前，1847 年澳門賭博合法化，作為滿足殖民當局税庫的一種方式。到 19 世紀後期，博彩稅已成為政府的主要收入。幾十年來，該行業一直被已故億萬富翁何鴻燊聯合創立的一家公司壟斷，然後於 2002 年向目前的參與者開放。澳門最終超越了拉斯維加斯，如今投注者可以在假的埃菲爾鐵塔前擺姿勢，或沿著主要地帶的複製威尼斯運河漫步。

但轉變正在穩步進行。根據最新的政府數據，博彩業對雖然仍僱用澳門市五分之一的勞動力，但對澳門生產總值的貢獻在已從 2013 年的 63% 降至 疫情爆發前51%。

該市六家賭場運營商的執照更新程序正在成為北京轉型的關鍵考驗。由於許可證將在不到 10 個月內到期，預計政府將向這些公司施壓, 加大對非博彩行業的投資 - 根據彭博社對公司報告的計算，這些公司過去三年的博彩收入, 佔平均稅收總收入的 85% 。

博彩諮詢公司 IGamiX 的管理合夥人 Ben Lee 表示，鑑於在澳門進一步的發展擴有限，即使他們的博彩利潤前景不確定, 澳門政府亦可能會推動賭場運營商投資橫琴的項目。

雖然賭場最近加倍努力吸引更多所謂的大眾市場投注者，大眾們可能會花更多的時間在外用餐和購物，而不是在賭桌上，但要與賭場業務分開的整個項目, 可能更具挑戰性。會議活動、渡輪服務和零售收入佔澳門最大的博彩收入運營商金沙中國有限公司 2019 年的淨收入的不到 3%。

賭場業務面臨著來自該地區其他地方的非博彩業務的激烈競爭。香港 - 只需搭乘渡輪之遥 - 擁有成熟的會議和展覽業，並舉辦從藝術節到欖球比賽的重大國際活動。海南省也因其免稅地位而出現了國內旅遊業的繁榮，亦希望發展類似的產業。

Morningstar Inc.分析師Jennifer Song說，賭場法的修訂是在對 VIP 投注者長達十年的打擊之後進行的。 這些賭徒之所以引起北京的憤怒，是因為他們得到中介人的幫助，這些中介人有時會在大陸推廣博彩、組織海外賭博旅行, 以及為豪賭客提供影子銀行服務而違反中國法律。

Jennifer Song說，那些舉措大大遏制了曾經是澳門的命脈。 現在，北京更廣泛的計劃可能會對整個賭場行業產生類似的影響。

       So, what the Macau government wants, and what Beijing wants, is to have a lot more non-gambling facility. Macau will become a much bigger place, so gambling will be just one part of a city and it will have a lot more leisure facilities to offer in the future.

China - "Bitcoin" and other crypto assets are totally banned - carry criminal punishment

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

中国 「ビットコイン」などの暗号資産を全面的に禁止 刑事罰も

2021年9月24日 22時43分

中国政府は24日、「ビットコイン」などの暗号資産について、経済の秩序を混乱させるとともに犯罪行為にも使われているなどとして、関連したサービスを違法行為として全面的に禁止すると発表しました。

中国の中央銀行である中国人民銀行や公安省などは24日、「ビットコイン」などの暗号資産について、情報の提供や決済など関連したサービスを全面的に禁止すると発表しました。

この中では、インターネットを通じた海外の交換会社での取り引きについても禁止すると明示しています。

さらに、その理由については、暗号資産は経済や金融の秩序を混乱させるもので、マネーロンダリングや詐欺などの犯罪行為に使われているとしていて、違反した場合は、違法な金融活動にあたるとして、刑事責任を追及するとしています。

中国では、暗号資産の取り引きはすでに規制されていましたが、今回、さらに取締りを徹底する姿勢を示しました。

この発表直後には「ビットコイン」の価格が一時、大幅に下落するなど、暗号資産の価格にも影響を与えています。

中国政府としては、電子的な法定通貨、「デジタル人民元」の発行に向けて実証実験を進める中で、政府の管理がきかない暗号資産を締め出すねらいもあるとみられます。

Translation

September 24, 2021 22:43

On the 24th, the Chinese government announced that cryptographic assets such as "Bitcoin" were being used for criminal acts as well as disrupting economic order, and said that it would completely ban its related services as illegal acts.

The People's Bank of China which was the central banks of China, together with the Ministry of Public Security, announced on the 24th that about crypto asset such as "Bitcoin", they would completely ban its related services such as providing information and payment.

It clearly stated that transactions with overseas exchange companies via the Internet were also prohibited.

Also, the reason was that crypto assets had disrupted the economic and financial order and were used for criminal acts such as money laundering and fraud. These were illegal financial activities and was supposed to criminal liability and would be pursued if violated.

In China, trading of crypto assets was already regulated, but this time, a stance of further crackdown was shown.

Immediately after this announcement, the price of "Bitcoin" dropped sharply for a while, which was also affecting the price of crypto assets.

The Chinese government seemed to aim at keeping out crypto assets that were out of the control of the government, and meanwhile was at a time in conducting concept-proving tests toward the issuance of the electronic legal tender "Digital RMB".

              So, the Chinese government announces that cryptographic assets such as "Bitcoin” are illegal and related financial activities will carry criminal liabilities.