China News - 1 December 2020
New China Research Group report: UK needs new policy options to deal with Beijing. The full report on our website sets out a policy toolkit that democratic countries could adopt in response to continued breaches of human rights and international law by the Chinese government. The Telegraph covers our new report this morning, highlighting policy options such as pushing for sanctions on listed persons and financial institutions, and potential bans for the export of surveillance equipment to China. Alexander Downer’s foreword, which says the UK is in dire need of a coherent China policy to replace its “superficial” strategy, also receives coverage in City AM, The Independent, The Independent, Express, Sydney Morning Herald.
Alongside today’s launch, Tom Tugendhat writes in The Times about Britain’s role in countering China: “we must plot a new course to work with China where it follows the rules and be clear where we feel it is not.”
Join us today at 10:30am for the launch panel discussion with Alexander Downer, Tom Tugendhat MP, Nathan Law, Rahima Mahmut and Neil O’Brien MP. YouTube link.
President Trump ties Joe Biden’s hands with new China sanctions on China National Offshore Oil Corporation and SMIC. China National Offshore Oil Corporation is one of China’s most familiar commercial names overseas and has joint ventures with Royal Dutch Shell and shared projects with Exxon. The order prohibits US investment in the blacklisted companies from November next year. The Times, 1 December
China today announces new export control laws, focusing on military technologies. In what is seen as a tit-for-tat measure, the Export Control Law establishes several categories of “controlled items”, which include nuclear, military items and “dual use” items that can be used for both civilian and military purposes. Prices for rare earth minerals have increased in anticipation that the law could affect their export. BBC, 1 December
France and New Zealand join Australia's criticism of Chinese government tweet. Former diplomat urges more countries to stand against ‘coercion’ from Beijing, as Chinese state media says Australia is ‘treating China’s goodwill with evil’. The Guardian, 1 December
The Wuhan files: Leaked documents reveal China's mishandling of the early stages of Covid-19. CNN reports on a leaked cache of documents from local health authorities in Hubei. The documents “provide no evidence of a deliberate attempt to obfuscate findings, they do reveal numerous inconsistencies in what authorities believed to be happening and what was revealed to the public.” CNN, 1 December
NATO 2030 report set to be released today, set to term Russia as main adversary but China as key strategic threat, citing activity in Arctic and Africa. Reuters, New York Times, 1 December
China gave COVID-19 vaccine candidate to North Korea's Kim and family - U.S. analyst. Reuters, 1 December
China sanctions four people with links to US democracy promotion over Hong Kong. Reuters, 1 December
China watch
China’s lawmakers reviewing first ever draft personal data protection legislation. Caixin, 30 November
China about to expand pilot programmes for outbound investment, granting domestic investors more access to foreign opportunities. Caixin, 1 December
CPC leadership reviews regulations on military political work, united front, Party members' rights. Xinhua
Economy & tech
Belt and Road pollution blacklist discourages fossil fuel investments. A study backed by China’s environmental ministry has called for polluting Belt and Road projects to be placed on a negative list to encourage the country’s banks to avoid coal and other environmentally harmful investments along the route. FT, 1 December
Asian manufacturing boom offers hope for swifter global recovery from Covid. New PMI data for China is at the highest level since November 2010.The Guardian, 1 December
Speculators zoom in on Shenzhen to flip new homes for quick profit, raising warning of ‘grey rhino’ risks and regulators’ ire. SCMP, 1 December
Longer reads & opinion
Watching China in Europe - December 2020. Noah Barkin on the latest developments in EU-China relations. GMF, 1 December
New issue of China Leadership Quarterly, with articles on CCP elite politics, Chinese state capitalism and the PLA’s evolving role in China’s South China Sea strategy. China Leadership Monitor - Winter Issue 2020, 1 December
Hong Kong’s Courts Are Still Independent. Some Want to Rein Them In. NYT, 30 November
India and China compete over Indian Ocean debt-relief diplomacy. Nikkei Asia, 30 November
Confucius Institute - a Trojan horse in France. MediaPart, 11 November
'We Are Shipping To The U.S.': Inside China's Online Synthetic Drug Networks. NPR, 17 November