The Financial Times published a more sinister article that Five Eye Spy Chiefs Warn Silicon Valley Over Chinese Threat to high-tech sectors.  The Five Eyes spy chiefs are in effect the security services in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia and New Zealand.  Having grown up in a world focused on Russian espionage, it seems strange to see the historical “ham-fisted” approach of China to most things categorized as a threat. Nonetheless, recently FBI director Christopher Wray hosted counterparts from the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing network in Silicon Valley to raise awareness about risks posed by China in high-tech sectors from quantum computing and artificial intelligence to synthetic biology. 

Wray is shown below making a very clear statement that “This is the very first time the heads of our five agencies have appeared together publicly on any topic—an unprecedented threat.” The Chinese response was as expected that “The Five Eyes Alliance is the world’s largest intelligence organization, accustomed to producing and spreading false information about China.” China may have already reached a pole position in artificial intelligence such that the Five Eyes have not had their eyes wide open. 

Now comes the shock headline from Reuters: Taliban to Join Belt and Road Scheme.  The despicable Taliban administration of Afghanistan is sending a technical team to China for talks relative to joining China’s Belt and Road program.  Apparently, even the Taliban seeks to access the commonly accepted third world handout of “money for nothing” to develop infrastructure and provide China further control. Beijing has sought to develop ties with the Taliban-run government since the U.S. fled in 2021, even though no other foreign government has recognized the administration.  Accordingly, the acting Taliban Commerce Minister Haji Nooruddin Azizi, shown below, requested that China allow Afghanistan to join the gravy train that affords China control when the weak borrowers cannot afford to repay the indebtedness incurred.  

Arab News illustrated the initial celebratory enthusiasm, shown below, in Pakistan when it entered China’s Belt and Road program some thirteen years ago.  Sadly, the first day on the program is the most enjoyable though there is a never-ending chapter in the future when the indebtedness cannot be repaid.  On the other hand, the Taliban economy has a strong driver in their control of the worldwide heroin market.  Further, their military success makes them feel somewhat “bullet proof” compared to the weaker military governments of Pakistan, Laos, and Cambodia.  Nonetheless, the Chinese should be wary of the export economy of the Taliban as the British caused some difficulties with China many years ago over the opium trade—opium to China in return for tea to Britain. 

 Arab News also reported that on October 23 the cricket team of Afghanistan defeated Pakistan after seven defeats.  Strangely, the colonial relic of cricket still rings bells of excitement and national pride in the former British colonies. I have always compared cricket to the sport of watching paint dry.  On the other hand, cricket is a distant relative of our national sport of baseball though we have simplified the action and rules.  Moreover, most folks in Texas are excited that the Texas Rangers won the World Series where more beer was consumed at the world series than tea at a cricket match.

I doubt anyone has significant hope for an improvement of U.S./China relationships following the Apec Meeting. We will just have to wait and see which side of the table has the “forked tongue” folks. It may well be there is plenty of hot air and empty promises on both sides which is typically the case in any diplomatic gathering.