International
Chinese authorities detain Bloomberg journalist in Beijing on suspicion of endangering national security. Haze Fan, who works as a staff reporter for the organisation’s Beijing bureau, was last seen being escorted from a residential block on Monday. Bloomberg have now received confirmation that she has been detained. Bloomberg, SCMP, 11 December
ICC asks for more evidence on Uighur genocide claims before opening investigation. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has said it will keep the file open for such further evidence to be submitted. The complaint against China is the first of its kind, and the only way that Chinese officials could be criminally investigated and prosecuted at the international level for the alleged abuses carried out against Uyghur people. The Guardian, 11 December
Canadians Kovrig and Spavor 'have not been tried' in China, mistake attributed to “inaccurate characterisation” by foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying. Mr Spavor and Mr Kovrig were arrested two years ago and formally indicted in June. Read more about Charles Parton’s Christmas campaign for the two Michaels here. BBC, 11 December
Australian Uighur family reunited after leaving Xinjiang; culmination of three-year human rights campaign in Australia. SCMP, Reuters, 11 December
French footballer Antoine Griezmann severs ties with Huawei over Uighurs. BBC, 11 December
Hong Kong
Hong Kong pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai charged under security law, accused of collusion with a foreign country or external elements. He has become the highest profile person to be charged under the new law. BBC, The Times, 11 December
Chinese officials linked to Hong Kong arrests escape UK sanctions. The FCDO has announced new Magnitsky-style sanctions against 10 human rights abusers in four countries, but has still not yet imposed sanctions against any Chinese officials. The Guardian, 11 December
Hong Kong city government lashes out at Britain over use of city’s flag in government meeting with activists, accuses London of breaching joint declaration with new BN(O) visa scheme. SCMP, 11 December
China watch
China to step up fiscal support for new economic strategy, Finance Minister Liu Kun said. Plans for boosting domestic consumption include appropriately expanding public consumption and increasing imports of high-quality goods to help upgrade domestic consumption, Liu said. Reuters, 11 December
Chinese mystery box maker Pop Mart rakes in millions from millennial fans. Reuters, 10 December
Covid: China’s aviation regulator asks cabin crew to wear nappies to reduce virus risk. BBC, 11 December
Economy & tech
Chinese state investors sound alarm on cash crunch after defaults spooked the country’s credit markets. A series of recent defaults by state firms that count local governments as majority shareholders have raised doubts over the ability of some authorities to pay back debt. Caixin, FT, SCMP, 11 December
Tsinghua Unigroup's bond default: Five things to know about the prestigious Made in China 2025 chipmaker’s debt troubles. Nikkei Asia, 11 December
Cost of shipping goods to UK soars amid Covid pandemic. Executives in freight services companies said they have seen prices for containers from mainland China triple or even quadruple in the course of a few months. The Guardian, 11 December
US telcos ordered to 'rip and replace' Huawei components by FCC. The FCC has also started the process of revoking China Telecom's authorisation to operate in the US. BBC, 11 December
Index providers race to respond to Trump’s Chinese investment bans. FTSE Russell and S&P have already announced exclusions including Hikvision and China Railway Construction Corporation. FT, 11 December
Longer reads & opinion
Chaguan: China is doubling down in Xinjiang. The Economist’s columnist tries to visit factories accused of using forced labour. The Economist, 10 December
China’s radical new vision of globalisation. President Xi’s vision of “dual circulation” is a pessimistic economic strategy. James Crabtree in Noema, 10 December
How China’s Communist Party trains foreign politicians through the International Department. Its mission is to promote the virtues of strong centralised leadership and to present an alternative successful growth model. The Economist, 11 December
China’s Xi ramps up control of the private sector. ‘We have no choice but to follow the Party.’ Wall Street Journal, 10 December
Facial recognition vs privacy advocates in China. A new landmark ruling on facial biometric data consent represents a new wave of public pushback. Vice, 10 December
Analysis: Xi floats 2027 as new milestone year. Celebration of army's 100th birthday likely a precursor of bigger things ahead. Nikkei Asia, 10 December 2020
China launches ‘gray-zone’ warfare to subdue Taiwan, raising questions over how Biden administration will respond. Reuters, 10 December