China News - 10 February 2021
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International
UK influence: more reports on UK-China research funding ties. After the news that Tencent had paid £700k to rename an Oxford Physics fellowship, there has been a flurry of further reports. The Times reports that Tencent donated to Cambridge in 20109 to fund a new five-year postdoctoral research fellowship in the department of engineering. Jesus College, Cambridge, also has Tencent ties, having hosted the Yidan Prize Conference: Europe three times. The Telegraph reports Tencent signed a three-year partnership with the BBC. The Telegraph, The Times, 10 February
After Wuhan mission on pandemic origins, WHO team dismisses lab leak theory. Speak at a press conference, Dr Embarek from the WHO said it is “extremely unlikely” that the coronavirus leaked from a lab in the Chinese city of Wuhan. The Telegraph, Washington Post, NBC, 9 February
US will not accept World Health Organization findings out of Wuhan without independently verifying, says State Department spokesman. SCMP, 10 February
Government narrowly avoids defeat on trade bill. MPs voted 318-303 in favour of a government compromise to use the House of Commons foreign affairs committee - not the judiciary - to consider evidence of genocide and make non-binding recommendations. The bill will now return to the Lords, where IPAC will look to re-insert the genocide amendment. FT, The Guardian, Bloomberg, Times Red Box, 9 February
17+1 summit: Xi offers Covid-19 vaccines and trade ties in bid to keep Central and Eastern Europe on side. He said China would import US$170 billion worth of goods and double the purchase of agricultural products from the region over the next five years, state news agency Xinhua reported. But leaders from six countries didn’t show up. Politico, SCMP, 9 February
Chinese publisher who spoke up for dissident academic is jailed for three years. Geng Xiaonan pleaded guilty to publishing illegal titles after she made comments backing Beijing critic Xu Zhangrun. The Guardian, 10 February
China poses serious strategic threat to Canada, says Canadian spy agency head. Reuters, 9 February
CGTN highlights PM spokesperson comments that there is still cooperation possibility for UK and China. CGTN, 10 February
BioNTech on track to supply 100 million vaccine doses to China. Caixin, 9 February
China watch
State Council issues policies to support traditional Chinese medicine development. State Council, 9 February
Central Bank warns of risks of surging household debt. A new monetary policy report released on Monday said there is very little room for further expansion of household debt. Caixin, 9 February
Economy & tech
Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei makes first public remarks since inaguration; calls on Biden to lift sanctions. Caixin, 10 February
China’s Mars mission up next to orbit the red planet. The Tianwen-1 mission is scheduled to be the second of three new visitors to Mars this month. New York Times, 10 February
Longer reads & opinion
The Telegraph View: We should not write off the theory that Covid-19 escaped from a laboratory so easily. The Telegraph, 10 February
New geopolitical fears surround 2022 Beijing Olympics. A useful in-depth guide to the background to calls for a boycott. Axios, 9 February
Agenda 2021: A Blueprint for US-Europe-India Cooperation. GMFUS, 8 February
Beijing wins when democracy is extinguished. Burma’s military coup plays into the hands of a Chinese regime intent on expanding its influence. The Telegraph, 10 February
The UK cannot take foreign investment for granted. Investment Monitor, 10 February
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