China News - 11 February 2022
UK-China
CRG co-chair Alicia Kearns MP leads motion on Taiwan. MPs debated building closer bilateral relations between the UK and Taiwan and the island’s status as an important beacon of democracy in the House of Commons yesterday. The Foreign Affairs Committee is set to visit Taiwan in the coming weeks. Focus Taiwan, 11 February
Boris Johnson’s plan to restart China trade talks meets MP opposition. The UK's department for international trade has been tasked with organising high-level ministerial talks with the Chinese government for the first time since 2018. The decision risks triggering a backlash from MPs who are concerned about China's human rights record and the security implications of establishing closer ties with Beijing. Politico, 10 February
Government minister indicates concessions on BNO amendment. Following a debate in the House of Lords yesterday, the government has agreed to act on the BNO amendment - which would see the visa scheme extended to Hong Kongers born after 1997 - by the time the Nationality And Borders Bill is debated at Report Stage next month. Hong Kong Watch (via Twitter), 10 February
British regulators have approved a Chinese reactor design. After five years of deliberation, regulators approved Hualong One, a Chinese nuclear-reactor design for construction on British soil. However, no Hualong reactor is likely to be built in Britain as it seems clear that Chinese involvement in British nuclear-power plants is at an end. The Economist, 11 February
International
Australia’s to join EU’s WTO dispute with China over Lithuania curbs. Australia’s “substantial trade interest” has seen Canberra officially request to be included in consultations alongside Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. China has stopped buying beef, dairy products and beer from Lithuania. SCMP, BBC, 11 February
Quad ministers address Indo-Pacific 'coercion', climate, COVID. The United States, Australia, Japan and India today pledged to deepen cooperation to ensure the Indo-Pacific region was free from "coercion", a thinly-veiled swipe at China's growing economic and military expansion. Reuters, 11 February
Hong Kong democracy and media freedom has ‘entered endgame’. The International Federation for Journalists has called on foreign governments to support journalists fleeing Hong Kong. The Guardian, 10 February
China’s envoy to UN urges Taliban to take action amid terrorism threat. SCMP, 10 February
'Born free': Somaliland says China can't dictate to it over Taiwan. Reuters, 11 February
China plans events with US to mark 50th anniversary of Nixon visit. Nikkei Asia, 11 February
China focus
Top Chinese chip maker SMIC to invest record US$5 billion in capacity expansion after profits doubled in 2021. The US decision to put the company on its Entity List cast a shadow over SMIC’s development of advanced technology nodes, but has not disrupted its operations for mature technologies, chief financial officer Gao Yonggang said. SCMP, Nikkei Asia, 11 February
Beijing ready to implement harsher Covid lockdown on Hong Kong. The Chinese government is worried officials in the financial hub are not doing enough to quash the current outbreak. FT, 11 February
Hong Kong’s elderly citizens remain largely unvaccinated. The Economist, 11 February
Evergrande chair breaks silence to rule out asset fire sale. Hui Ka Yan pledged that the embattled property developer would complete half its remaining projects over the rest of the year. FT, 10 February
China’s industry ministry gives itself more power over data transfers in updated rules. SCMP, 10 February
China’s family planning agency says it will ‘intervene’ in abortions for unmarried women, teens. The Times, Sixth Tone, 11 February
Opinion and editorial
Foreign judges are enabling Hong Kong’s legal crackdown. A Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmaker is in jail because of a court ruling endorsed by a UK judge. Eric Lai. The Diplomat, 11 February
The good and the bad of China on Olympic show. As Beijing hosts the winter games, a mood of pride mixed with defiance. Chaguan - The Economist, 11 February
Biden doesn’t want to change China. He wants to beat it. Josh Rogin. The Washington Post, 10 February
Long reads
China’s long arm: How Uyghurs are being silenced in Europe. Index on Censorship, 9 February
Wang Huning’s career reveals much about political change in China. The Economist, 11 February
Nixon in China: are there lessons for today’s leaders? Jane Perlez. FT, 11 February
Beijing Olympics 2022: An exclusive look into the Games as a spectator. Stephen McDonnell. BBC, 11 February