International
Huawei threatens Danish PM: Chinese investment in Denmark will suffer if Huawei not allowed to provide 5G. Berlingske has obtained a series of letters to both former Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and current Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen from the chair of Huawei, in which the PM is threatened that the desire of other Chinese companies to invest in Denmark will be 'seriously affected' if Huawei gets into 'trouble'. "These are open threats that should wake us up and balance our business ties to China," said Thorsten Benner, director of the German research institute Global Public Policy Institute. Berlingske says the PM is pressing ahead with legislation to “send Huawei out into the cold”. Berlingske, Computerworld & BT, 13 May
China hacking poses 'significant threat' to US Covid-19 response, says FBI. Guardian, 14 May
Three UN special rapporteurs have urged Hong Kong authorities to drop the criminal prosecution of 15 leading pro-democracy activists. “Nobody should be subjected to administrative or criminal sanctions for taking part in a peaceful protest,” the experts said in a joint statement. Footage has emerged of journalists being pepper sprayed in Hong Kong along with further allegations of sexual abuse by police. Hong Kong Free Press, Twitter, 13 May
Borrell: EU won’t again bow to Chinese censorship. The EU's top diplomat made the comments after a joint op-ed with the Chinese government was partly censored. Politico, 13 May
France tells Chinese authorities to focus on virus, not Taiwan arms deal. The French foreign ministry Wednesday dismissed Beijing’s warnings to cancel an arms contract France has entered with Taiwan. Reuters, 13 May
Chinese ambassador to the Netherlands accuses ‘certain politicians’ of inciting ‘new Fascism’ in response to coronavirus. Xu Hong Twitter, 13 May
Advisor to Chinese government says wolf warrior diplomacy backfiring. “Too hasty, too soon”. SCMP, 14 May
“Things are moving dangerously quickly in the South China sea.” Andrew Bowie - Conservative Home, 13 May
“Leaked Chinese Virus Database Covers 230 Cities, 640,000 Updates”. Foreign Policy, 12 May
China ramping up bullying and intimidation of activists in Canada, report from Amnesty says. Globe & Mail, 12 May
Economy/tech
Who controls Huawei? A report from the Swedish Institute of International Affairs concludes: “It is likely that the Chinese party-state controls Huawei to such an extent that it could leverage technological dependencies to obtain political concessions.” Swedish Institute of International Affairs, 13 May
Huawei Struggles to Get Along Without Google. With services blocked by the U.S., Huawei’s smartphone sales outside China dropped by four times as much as Apple's. WSJ, 12 May
Trump extends executive order aimed at Huawei. SCMP, 14 May
Beijing not responding to Australian requests for urgent trade talks. The Australian Trade Minister said his request to talk with counterparts in Beijing to discuss suspensions and tariff threats from China has gone unanswered. Chinese State media says Australia is “delusional” to think it can criticise without an impact on trade. Reuters & Global Times, 13 May
UK firms pressing for investment in hydrogen as alternative to Chinese tech. The Telegraph says Shell, Bosch, Johnson Matthey and Anglo American are among firms complaining hydrogen is excluded from a £5bn government scheme to buy low emission buses. In a letter to the transport secretary they say that “Deliberate exclusion of hydrogen electric buses misses a vital opportunity to trial clean, green, UK-male technology” Telegraph, 14 May
Modi ramps up plan to reduce India’s dependence on China. SCMP, 14 May
Poland introduces new controls on takeovers. The Deputy PM says Polish firms cannot become “cheap booty for funds, especially from outside the EU” FT, 14 May
TikTok Broke Privacy Promises, Children’s Groups Say. NYTimes, 13 May
Long reads
The meaning of systemic rivalry: Europe and China beyond the pandemic. ECFR, 13 May