China News - 14 December 2020
International
China formalises cut to Australia's coal imports, state media reports. Chinese state media has reported that it has formalised import restrictions targeting Australia’s $14bn coal exports, instead prioritising Mongolian, Indonesian and Russian imports. It comes after months of informal import restrictions. Trade Minister Simon Birmingham urged Chinese authorities to "immediately rule out the reports". He said, if accurate, they would appear to be the use of discriminatory practices against Australian coal. The Guardian, Sydney Morning Herald, 14 December
Boris Johnson approves talks on new nuclear power plant at Sizewell, questions over China involvement. Boris Johnson has approved the start of negotiations with EDF about funding a new £20 billion nuclear power plant. The Times echoes earlier reports that the government is considering taking an equity stake in the plant amid rumours that China General Nuclear (CGN) will pull out of the process. The Times, 14 December
Leaked database of records of 1.95m CCP members highlights presence across Western companies. Released by IPAC, the list also shows CCP members work at Australian, British and US consulates in Shanghai. The Australian, Mail on Sunday, The Telegraph, 13 December
EU urges China to free all journalists and citizens detained for reporting, Chinese Embassy warns EU against interfering. The Telegraph, BBC, 13 December
Hong Kong democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai denied bail after being charged on Friday under national security law. The Guardian, NYT, 12 December
HSBC should make public statement on its approach to China’s crackdown, warns Patten. The Telegraph, 12 December
Switzerland denies deal with China was threat to dissidents, says it was standard ‘technical arrangement’. The Guardian, 12 December
‘Wolf warrior’ diplomats are just cubs learning to roar, as China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Thursday that the country has a right to defend itself. Sunday Times, 13 December
China watch
China steps up Internet sector scrutiny, fines deals involving Alibaba, Tencent as part of anti-monopoly crackdown. Reuters, SCMP,14 December
Xi urges party to be alert to national security risks, calls political security a priority for the next five years. SCMP, 12 December
China to keep economic operations 'within reasonable range' in 2021 as it seeks to avoid middle income trap - Politburo. Reuters, 10 December
Economy & tech
China lays out steps towards climate targets at UN summit. President Xi vowed to nearly triple China’s wind and solar capacity during the next decade at a UN climate summit. FT, 13 December
Chinese vaccine being produced in Brazil draws demand across Latin America, say Brazilian officials. President Jair Bolsonaro refuses to buy the Chinese vaccine for a national immunization programme, but officials in Brazil say there is widespread Latin American interest. Reuters, 10 December
Chinese e-commerce platform JD.com kicks off digital yuan trial, with 20,000 DCEP orders. SCMP, 14 December
Investors are learning to live with China’s credit defaults. The offshore junk market proved resilient to latest Tsinghua Unigroup missed debt repayment. Bloomberg, 11 December
Longer reads & opinion
The Guardian view on China’s treatment of the Uighurs: from unthinkable to irrefutable. The Guardian, 13 December
China’s policy banks are lending differently, not less. The Diplomat, 12 December
Reading China's State Capitalism. Adam Tooze, 13 December
The Borrell Doctrine: What European foreign policy in times of COVID-19? A summary of the EU’s foreign policy outlook by Josep Borrell in Geopolitique, 14 December
China's tiny Jewish community in fear as Beijing erases its history in crackdown against non-sanctioned religions. The Telegraph, 11 December
Localised substitution: How state organisations and provincial governments aim to substitute foreign technology with Chinese developed alternatives. ChinAI newsletter, 12 December
Australia-China divide forces New Zealand to 'straddle two worlds'. Nikkei Asia, 14 December
The week ahead
Monday
12pm: GCHQ director Jeremy Fleming speaks at a Chatham House webinar on cyber and defence.
3:15pm: Commons Defence sub-committee hears oral evidence on foreign involvement in the defence supply chain.
US federal court hears government’s appeal against a block on TikTok ban.
Chinese conglomerate Shandong Ruyi faces bond repayment deadline.
Tuesday
2:30pm: Commons Foreign Affairs Committee hears oral evidence for inquiry into Xinjiang detention camps.
Release of China’s industrial production, retail sales and investment data.
Thursday
2:30pm: Commons DCMS Sub-committee hears oral evidence for inquiry into anti-vaccination disinformation, including from TikTok’s Theo Bertram.
China’s lunar probe set to return to earth with 2kg of minerals from the moon.