News Analysis China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) has expanded its powers to become the new leading force in maintaining financial stability amid an economic slowdown. This means that under Chinese leader Xi Jinping, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) will further increase its control over the country’s financial sector—a role that the State Council previously held—to prevent a “large-scale crisis,” according to a China observer and financial analyst. Averting ‘Large-Scale Crisis’ On Oct. 30-31, the CCP held its Central Financial Work Conference—the highest-level meeting of China’s financial system—in Beijing, which all members of the Politburo Standing Committee attended. The State Council convened the event in the past, and the meeting was previously called the “National Financial Work Conference.”...Read more https://www.theepochtimes.com/china/chinas-national-security-agency-assumes-financial-oversight-to-avert-large-scale-crisis-analyst-5526854
A House of Commons committee is set to question Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland about Canada’s dealings with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which has been accused of being under the influence of Beijing. This comes five months after Ms. Freeland’s commitment to suspend collaboration with the bank. MPs voted in favour of an Oct. 23 motion asking the House of Commons Special Committee on Canada-China Relations to invite the Minister of Finance to appear as a witness in its examination of “Canada’s freeze in government-led activity” with the AIIB, as first reported by Blacklock’s Reporter. Ms. Freeland announced on June 14 that cabinet would “immediately halt all government led-activity” at the Chinese-led bank.... 
Up to one-fifth of Chinese funding received by universities in the United Kingdom in the past five years came from sources sanctioned by the United States, according to a report published on Nov. 11. When other sources with “demonstrable links with the Chinese military” are included, the proportion became up to one-third, according to the report, published by think tank Civitas: Institute for the Study of Civil Society. Robert Clark, director of the Defence and Security Unit (DSU) at Civitas, authored the report. Mr. Clark analysed Chinese funding declared by 46 universities in responses to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests that were received between 2017 and the 2022–2023 academic year....
On Oct. 27, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) announced the passing of Li Keqiang, the former premier of the CCP. The official statement indicated that Li suffered a fatal heart attack while swimming during a visit to Shanghai. A ceremony honoring the 68-year-old took place in Beijing on Nov. 2, the same day his body was cremated. The sudden demise of Li Keqiang, coupled with his swift cremation, has ignited global speculation about whether foul play may have been involved. The untimely event coincided with the ongoing purging of disloyal CCP members, concurrent with the replacement of Li’s appointees to key ministerial positions within China’s State Council....