China News - 1 December
International
Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger dies aged 100. Kissinger is the only American to have dealt directly with every Chinese leader from Mao to Xi, China’s Central Television called him a “legendary diplomat”. Bernd Debusmann Jr. BBC News, 30 November
Taiwan urges elderly and young to avoid China visits owing to respiratory illnesses. Taiwan’s health ministry has advised the elderly, very young and those with poor immunity to avoid travel to China as a result of the recent increase in respiratory illness there. Ben Blanchard and Andrew Silver. Reuters, 30 November
Taiwan president: China too “overwhelmed” to consider invasion. China’s leadership is too “overwhelmed” with its internal problems to focus on launching an invasion of Taiwan. Ben Blanchard and Yew Lun Tian. Reuters, 30 November
China and Turkmenistan vow to strengthen cooperation on energy and security. Amid Beijing’s efforts to strengthen its relationship with resource-rich Central Asia, the Chinese vice-premier says relations have taken a “significant leap” with Turkmenistan. Laura Zhou. South China Morning Post, 30 November
Émigré, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra review- story of love and refuge in China’s Jewish community. In 2020, the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum nearly tripled in size, and Shanghai Symphony Orchestra music director Long Yu commissioned a full evening work to give faces to the statistics. Ken Smith. Financial Times, 29 November
Britain says bye-bye to its only pandas as they’ll soon depart for China. Edinburgh Zoo wished Yang Guang and Tian Tian a “bamboo bon voyage”. Eduardo Medina. The New York Times, 29 November
Economy & Tech
How Huawei surprised the US with a cutting-edge chip made in China. According to Gregory Allen, director of Wadhwani Centre for AI and Advanced Technologies, “perhaps the most surprising fact about the Huawei breakthrough is that so many US government leaders were evidently surprised”. Qianer Liu. Financial Times, 30 November
China’s coal habit casts doubt on Xi’s climate promises. China’s continued reliance on coal risks overshadowing the country’s progress in the development of clean technologies. Edward White. Financial Times, 30 November
Chinese factory activity contracts in sign of economy losing momentum. China’s manufacturing activity contracted for the second month in November. The official manufacturing purchasing managers’ index came in at 49.4 this month, lower than October’s reading of 49.5. Joe Leahy and Andy Lin. Financial Times, 30 November
China investment bank bans displays of wealth. CICC asks analysts to avoid negative macro and bankers to not show off any personal wealth. Bloomberg, 30 November
Opinion & long-reads
China covered up the origins of Covid. It’s time the Inquiry asked why. Beijing’s lies denied the world a chance to stop, or at least limit, the spread and that cost millions of lives. We need to know the truth to ensure it does not happen again. Matt Ridley. Telegraph, 28 November
The fading era of hyper-globalisation is a study in success. The worldwide integration of markets should be viewed by governments as a means to an end rather than the main aim. Alan Beattie. Financial Times, 30 November
China may be close to a climate tipping point. China is the force behind EVs and solar panels, but their recent binge on fossil fuels also makes it the world’s largest carbon dioxide polluter. Pilita Clark. Financial Times, 30 November
China-Taiwan: Beijing’s new attack submarine could change the game. The unique wasp-waisted shape may signal a new standard feature on future Chinese submarines, as it could help them avoid detection by the US and allied fleets. David Axe. Telegraph, 29 November