China News - 1 October
International
Cambridge sets guidelines to reduce overseas engagement risks. The University of Cambridge is to introduce guidance for upholding academic freedom and national security in international agreements. Vice-chancellor Stephen Toope will on Friday announce the guidelines for students and academics on navigating projects when working with countries that “do not share the UK’s commitment to democracy and the rule of law”. CRG committee member Alicia Kearns said the guidance from Cambridge was a “step in the right direction” FT, 1 October
Following the release of a new China Research Group report earlier this week, chair Tom Tugendhat discussed the risks associated with the education sector being over-reliant on Chinese money. In June, Tugendhat penned an opinion piece in the Financial Times calling for transparency around sponsorship by China-linked firms and academic partnerships with Chinese institutions.
UK ranks among top economic partners of Vietnam: PM. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that the UK is among the leading economic partners of Vietnam in Europe while receiving British Ambassador to Vietnam Gareth Ward in Hanoi. The two discussed the need for their countries to cooperate more closely to make the most of opportunities brought about by the UK - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement. Vietnam+, 30 September
Chinese energy order points to harsher gas crunch for Europe. The natural gas crunch hitting the UK and Europe is likely to intensify after China ordered state-backed companies to secure energy supplies no matter the cost. Chinese state media quoted Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday as saying the country will secure its energy and power supplies following a series of blackouts and shortages. FT, The Guardian, The Telegraph, Bloomberg, 30 September
China asks Russia to boost electricity supplies amid widespread blackouts. The Telegraph, 30 September
Even the dirtiest coal is surging due to China’s power crunch. Bloomberg, 1 October
‘There’s cameras everywhere’: testimonies detail far-reaching surveillance of Uyghurs in China. China’s surveillance machine has grown with the aid of Chinese and international technology companies - but few have faced repercussions. The Guardian, 30 September
Hong Kong seeks to resurrect legislation to further crush dissent. The Hong Kong government is pushing ahead with its own national security legislation to “fill gaps” around the Beijing-imposed law. On Wednesday, the city’s security secretary, Chris Tang, said the government would consider targeting Taiwanese and other foreign political organisations when drafting the new legislation, known as Article 23. The Guardian, 30 September
US Senator probes LinkedIn, Microsoft on censoring US journalists in China. Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.) sent a letter to Microsoft and LinkedIn leadership on Thursday questioning why LinkedIn censored the profiles of U.S. journalists from the company's China-based platform this week, according to a letter obtained by Axios. Axios, 30 September
Xiaomi censorship allegations may cloud its global ambitions, other Chinese smartphone vendors’ expansion plans. Germany has started investigating Xiaomi’s smartphones, following Lithuania’s findings about the censorship capabilities of the firm’s devices. SCMP, 30 September
Evoking Mao, Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office likens Taiwan foreign minister to a 'shrilling' fly. Reuters, 1 October
Indonesia, China go toe-to-toe in gas-rich Natunas. AsiaTimes, 28 September
Economy & tech
Huawei hires former BBC executive as editor in chief in push to hire more foreign talent amid tensions with UK. Former head of BBC news programmes Gavin Allen joins French mathematician Laurent Lafforgue as two of the latest high-profile hires from Huawei as it looks for new business opportunities overseas. SCMP, 30 September
China hikes 2021 rare earth quotas by 20% to record highs. A statement from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said the 2021 rare earth mining output had been set at 168,000 tonnes, up from 140,000 last year, in a move to ease tight supply for manufacturers. Reuters, 1 October
Evergrande bonds snapped up by distressed debt investors. Distressed debt funds and individual investors are betting Beijing will come to rescue of the world’s most highly leveraged developer. FT, 30 September
Evergrande: Chinese property giant 'misses another payment deadline'. BBC, Reuters, 30 September
Zoom and Five9 drop US$14.7 billion merger amid US security review over video-conference app’s operations in China. SCMP, 1 October
China focus
China celebrates National Day as holiday begins. China held a flag-raising ceremony to mark the 72nd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing on Friday. More than 650 million trips are expected to be made in China during the holiday amid easing concern about the novel coronavirus outbreak. CGTN, 1 October
Chinese ex-official on trial for corruption as Xi Jinping’s purge continues. Former vice minister of security Sun Lijun has been accused of extreme ‘political ambition’ and leading a corrupt and extravagant life. The Guardian, WSJ, 1 October
Xi Jinping’s clampdowns herald a tense political year in China. In the build-up to a crucial Communist Party gathering, ideology matters more than usual. The Economist, 30 September
Longer reads & opinion
The west is the author of its own weakness. Philip Stephens. FT, 30 September
The Open Internet on the Brink: A Model to Save Its Future. Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, 30 September
China’s Xi ascendant as attention turns to every facet of life. Erin Hale. Al Jazeera, 1 October
When China wants to be feared. The Economist, 30 September.
The Quad enters the ring with China. Sadanand Dhume. WSJ, 30 September
The real meaning of China’s Evergrande problem. Martin Sandbu. FT, 30 September