China News 10 June 2020
International
“The party speaks for you” - new report on Beijing’s attempts to exert influence in democratic countries. ASPI, 9 June, WSJ, The Star
HSBC / Standard Chartered:
Aviva Investors criticises HSBC & Standard Chartered on Hong Kong stance. A high-profile investor in HSBC Holdings and Standard Chartered has criticised the London-based banks for supporting China’s plan to impose a new national security law on Hong Kong, calling on them to speak out if it results in abuse of democratic freedoms. WSJ, 10 June
Pompeo criticises “corporate kowtows” Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said: HSBC’s “show of fealty seems to have earned HSBC little respect in Beijing, which continues to use the bank’s business in China as political leverage against London.” Statement, 10 June
Former HSBC senior executive says “We have fallen off the tightrope. We have broken the social contract with Hong Kong and lost the moral high ground” FT, 10 June
State media raises threat of legal action against HSBC in China and says bank still “far from safe from reprisals”. The Global Times accuses the bank of having set a trap for Huawei's Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou which would make it “a criminal set to face sanctions under Chinese law”. Global Times, 9 June
Special Hong Kong police unit dedicated to enforcing new national security law already being formed. SCMP, 10 June
Japan to draft G7 statement on China’s plans for Hong Kong national security law. SCMP, Japan Times, 10 June
Interview with Chris Patten: We must stand up to the Communists in Beijing who hate freedom in Hong Kong. Conservative Home, 9 June
Beijing fires warning shot as Britain reconsiders China ties. Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his British counterpart Dominic Raab that Britain should be “extremely cautious” about Hong Kong and not meddle in the city’s affairs, the foreign ministry in Beijing said on Tuesday. SCMP, 10 June
UK looks to wean itself off Chinese imports. The FT looks at “project Defend”, the UK' government’s plan to diversify supply chains and ensure access to critical goods. FT, 10 June
EU accuses China, Russia of virus disinformation campaigns. AFP, 9 June
United States and Taiwan interference played role in anti-government movement claims Hong Kong’s city security minister. SCMP, 9 June
Banning China from 5G networks will make world less safe, warns top cyber spy. The Sun reports comments from a former GCHQ employee saying decoupling will lead to the splintering of the internet. The Sun, 10 June
German Foreign Minister asked about change of stance on Hong Kong. On ‘Die Woche’ Heiko Maas was asked about a photo with him and Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong from last year. Maas now describes him as a “separatist” and stresses the need to engage Beijing. ARD, 3 June
People’s Daily deletes pro-LGBT tweet, runs different lines in English, Chinese versions. Twitter, 10 June
Economy / tech
Can the U.S. End China’s Control of the Global Supply Chain? Bloomberg, 8 June
China Tries to Have It Both Ways With Virus Recovery. The country announced a slate of climate-friendly stimulus priorities, but has also loosened coal regulations. Bloomberg, 9 June
A US Secret Weapon in A.I.: Chinese Talent. New research shows scientists educated in China help American firms and schools dominate the cutting-edge field. Now industry leaders worry that worsening political tensions will blunt that edge. NY Times, 9 June
UK businesses in China say market opening measures have little impact. British Chamber of Commerce assessment comes amid rising tension over Hong Kong and Huawei. FT, 9 June
British Chamber of Commerce in China urges U.K.-China free-trade talks. Caixin, 9 June
Longer reads and opinions
Show no mercy: The tragedy in Xinjiang. The Critic, 8 June
Gideon Rachman: A new global crisis is looming in east Asia. “Over the years, China has learnt that an aggressive response often works, persuading foreign critics to back down. Changing that pattern of behaviour will require a more unified and principled response from the world’s democracies, perhaps through the formation of a permanent contact group to discuss policy towards China.” FT, 9 June
What the Pandemic Revealed. Niskanen Center, 9 June
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