China News - 14 September 2020
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International
Chinese tech firm compiles database on tens of thousands of British figures. New reports reveal that Zhenhua Data, a company with links to the Chinese government, has compiled information on 2.4m people - including thousands of UK figures and their families. But while the contents of the database were mostly based on public open-source data, experts say that the existence of such a database is a useful insight into China’s big data ambitions. The Telegraph, The Guardian, Washington Post, ABC, 13 September
Chinese investment in Australia almost halved in 2019, as relations deteriorated. This marks the third consecutive year that Chinese investment in Australia has dropped. Analysts have linked the decrease to rising diplomatic tensions with China, as the Australian government has pushed to tighten foreign investment rules and protect strategic industries. SCMP, The Guardian, 14 September
Hong Kong refuses to interfere with Chinese law enforcement arrest of 12 residents at sea. Hong Kong government officials have reiterated their refusal to intervene in the case, stating that the crime falls under mainland jurisdiction. China’s handling of the arrest of 12 Hong Kong pro-democracy activists attempting to flee the city has been condemned by the US government. Reuters, The Times, WSJ, 14 September
China bans pork imports from Germany ahead of EU-China summit today. China made the announcement in light of reports of Germany's first case of swine fever. Germany is China’s third largest supplier of pork imports, accounting for 14% of imports so far this year. Analysts see this as a ‘warning’ move ahead of key EU-China talks commencing today. FT, Reuters, 13 September
Mainland China reports 10 new COVID-19 cases, same as day earlier. Reuters, 13 September
China restricts US' diplomats’ movements in tit-for-tat exchange. WSJ, The Guardian, 11 September
Pompeo says U.S. ambassador to China to leave post. Reuters, 14 September
India-China dispute: China returns five missing Indian nationals. BBC, 13 September
Economy & tech
TikTok rejects Microsoft bid at eleventh hour, Oracle set to win bidding war. BBC, FT, 14 September
Coronavirus: not everyone in China will need vaccine, CDC chief says. SCMP, 13 September
EU, China sign food protection deal ahead of challenging summit. Reuters, 14 September
China tops Italy's list of non-EU import partners in 2019. Xinhua (state-affiliated media), 12 September
Longer reads & opinion
How a new alliance of democracies could counter Russia and China. New Statesman, 8 September
India and China are edging towards a more serious conflict. FT, 13 September
US-China: Washington revives plans for its rare earths industry. FT, 14 September
It will take more than attacks on Huawei to win the tech cold war. The Guardian, 13 September
Video: Ex-Google boss Eric Schmidt: 'US dropped ball on tech funding' compared to China. BBC, 12 September
Xinjiang: where Disney’s Chinese fiction clashes with harsh facts. FT, 11 September
How my mother and I became Chinese propaganda. New Yorker, 7 September
How China brought nearly 200 million students back to school. New York Times, 12 September