China News - 14 March 2022
International
Ukraine crisis: US warns China against helping Russia. The FT reports a US briefing that Russia has asked China to provide military equipment and assistance, amid reports of weapons shortages. US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan is set to meet Yang Jiechi in Italy, where he will communicate a warning about the consequences of support for Russia. BBC, FT, The Times, 14 March
Covid outbreak in China: Shenzhen enters lockdown. China reported nearly 3,400 daily Covid-19 cases on Sunday, double the previous day. Shenzhen has been locked down, with restrictions due to stay in place until at least 20 March. Foxconn, which produces iPhones for Apple, has announced that it is among businesses suspending operations in Shenzhen. The city plays a key role in the global tech supply chain. The Guardian, 14 March
Hong Kong threatens British human rights activist. Benedict Rogers received a letter from the Hong Kong government warning that he could be charged with “collusion with foreign forces” unless he takes down the Hong Kong Watch website. Liz Truss, the foreign secretary, said the Hong Kong authorities were “attempting to silence” supporters of “freedom and democracy”. The Times, 14 March
Hong Kong's freedom of press is nearing the 'end of the line'. The Telegraph, 14 March
Joint Statement on US-UK Consultations on the Indo-Pacific. On 7-8 March, the United Kingdom and United States held high-level consultations on the Indo-Pacific, led by Kurt Campbell and David Quarrey. White House, 11 March
Economy & tech
China seeks to cut reliance on coal imports with mining boom. The National Development and Reform Commission told officials from major mining regions at a meeting late last week that it wants to boost domestic production capacity by about 300 million tons (equivalent to China’s typical annual imports), and to build a 620 million ton stockpile. Bloomberg, 14 March
China cancelled H&M. Every other brand needs to understand why. An internal H&M review found the fast-fashion giant wasn’t particularly valued by local authorities in China, making it a prime target for a crackdown. Bloomberg, 14 March
China's cyberspace regulator drafts new rules to protect minors. Reuters, 14 March
Opinion & editorial
Possible Outcomes of the Russo-Ukrainian War and China’s Choice. An analysis by a Chinese scholar, who argues China should cut off Putin and give up neutrality. Hu Wei. US-China Perception Monitor, 12 March
Pulling out of Russia is one thing, but what if China outrages the West? Pulling out of Russia is a pragmatic call - and Western companies have far more material exposure to China. Oliver Shah. The Sunday Times, 13 March
China is squirming under pressure to condemn Russia. It can’t hold out forever. Beijing’s core message is still that Moscow has “legitimate security interests”. Richard McGregor. The Guardian, 11 March
Advancing Sino-British relations amid major changes unseen in a century. Zheng Zeguang. CGTN, 14 March