In Shanghai, police arrested 62 criminal gangs that were manufacturing and selling counterfeit Louis Vuitton bags. Chinese state news outlet CCTV reported that authorities seized 30 sets of counterfeiting equipment, 2,000 counterfeit bags, and over 100,000 pieces of raw materials. The estimated value of the seized goods was around $14.6 million.
These are not normal counterfeits, however. In the knock-off bags were anti-counterfeiting NFC sensor chips that could be scanned with a smartphone, and would redirect people to the official website of Louis Vuitton. The inclusion of the chips is adding to concerns both that chips are being used for illegal purposes in China, and that chips like this could be used for domestic and foreign surveillance.
Meanwhile, Chinese leader XI Jinping is pushing a new policy called the five “Never Agrees”. Under this, Xi says the Chinese people will never agree with anyone who attempts to split the Chinese Communist Party from the Chinese people, or impose their will on China. Xi explained the position during an event commemorating the 75th anniversary of the victory over Japan in World War II.
These stories and more in this episode of Crossroads.
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