China News - 12 December 2022
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International
Beijing braces for Covid surge after China lifts pandemic curbs. China is rapidly abandoning key Zero Covid restrictions, including mass testing, lockdowns and centralised quarantine. However, analysts have warned that the Chinese authorities are under-reporting coronavirus cases and fatalities, obscuring the scale and severity of the health crisis. Low rates of vaccination of the elderly and a lack of natural immunity mean the world’s most populous nation may be in for a difficult reopening. The Times, The Observer, 10 December
Cleverly to launch UK ‘patient diplomacy’ as counter to Russia and China. In his first major foreign policy, the UK Foreign Secretary will this morning launch what he will call “patient diplomacy”, intended to build stronger long-term relations with fast-growing countries such as Brazil, Kenya, South Africa and Indonesia. On the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Cleverly said that China’s behaviour was “unacceptable” on some issues, but called it a potential “important partner for good”. FT, Independent, 11 December
Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai jailed over five years on fraud charge. Hong Kong pro-democracy media owner Jimmy Lai received a fresh jail sentence of five years and nine months on Saturday after being found guilty of fraud in a contractual dispute. Lai, the 75-year-old founder of the now-shuttered Apple Daily newspaper, also faces a possible life sentence at his coming trial on national security charges. The Guardian, 10 December
Chinese takeover of power company triggers national security intervention. Business Secretary Grant Shapps has imposed restrictions on the takeover of a tiny shell company linked to UK power generation amid concerns it could hand UK intelligence to China. The Government has set restrictions on the information that can be shared with XRE Alpha’s new Chinese owner, under the National Security and Investment Act. The Sunday Telegraph, 11 December
UK, Italy and Japan team up for new fighter jet. The prime minister has announced a collaboration between the UK, Italy and Japan to develop a new fighter jet that uses artificial intelligence. The nations will develop a next-generation fighter - due to enter service in the mid-2030s - with Britain building closer ties with allies in the Indo-Pacific region worried about a more assertive China. BBC, 9 December
China preparing fresh pretext to practise future attacks, says Taiwan foreign minister. Taiwan’s government believes China is preparing to find another “pretext for practising their future attack” on the island, after a record-breaking year of military threats and incursions. Joseph Wu also suggested cross-strait communications may diminish even further now that Xi Jinping has secured his third term. The Guardian, 12 December
China slams US sanctions over alleged rights abuses in Tibet. US sanctions on two senior Chinese officials over alleged human rights abuses in Tibet were illegal and seriously harmed Sino-US ties, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Monday. Reuters, 12 December
Gulf Arab states draw closer to China as Xi visits Riyadh. Arab states and China pledged deeper ties, with Saudi Arabia saying it would balance its relationships with Beijing and the US. Xi wrapped up a three-day stay in the Saudi capital Riyadh, saying China would work more closely with the region and boost oil and gas trade. FT, 9 December
China boosts military aid to Africa as concerns over Russia grow. Nikkei Asia, 12 December
Senior US diplomats visit China in wake of Bali talks but little hope of a full thaw. SCMP, 11 December
Economy & tech
China stocks slide as traders take profit after sharp recent run. Chinese stocks slid on Monday amid some profit-taking following their sharp recent gains and as general caution prevailed in equity markets ahead of global central bank meetings. Technology stocks such as Meituan and Alibaba were the biggest fallers. Bloomberg, 12 December
China-owned MG plans electric car expansion in Britain. MG is planning to expand electric car sales in the UK, seeing “a significant opportunity” in the country after buyers snapped up its cars last year. The car brand, owned by the Chinese state, said the time had come to capitalise on what is now a “very strong electric vehicle offering”. The Sunday Telegraph, 11 December
Volkswagen's Skoda considers withdrawing from China. Reuters, 11 December
Fast-fashion giant Shein explores becoming online marketplace. WSJ, 12 December
Opinion & editorial
China faces an uncertain future in the zero-Covid endgame. Despite official triumphalism, rolling back the policy could see the health system overwhelmed. James Kynge. FT, 10 December
The politics of death in China. How will the party pivot from boasts about low covid death tolls? David Rennie. The Economist, 9 December
Xi Jinping's zero-Covid U-turn shows how much he fears his own people. Steve Tsang. The Telegraph, 10 December
Japan-UK-Italy fighter highlights advantages of 'minilateralism'. FCAS technology project gives partners more say in international security system. Alessio Patalano. Nikkei Asia, 9 December
Long reads
Out of deep freeze: just how real is the thaw in Australia’s relationship with China? Daniel Hurst. The Guardian, 10 December
Getting China to engage on climate change. Nis Grünberg and Barbara Pongratz. MERICS, 9 December
Can India build a military strong enough to deter China? John Reed and Chloe Cornish. FT, 12 December