China News - 15 December 2022
International
China diplomats leave UK over Manchester protester attack. China has removed six officials from Britain - including consul-general Zheng Xiyuan - two months after violence at its Manchester consulate. The UK had requested the officials waive their right to diplomatic immunity to allow detectives to question them about October's incident, but they were instead withdrawn by Beijing. CRG chair Alicia Kearns commented: “The Foreign Office must now declare those who have fled persona non grata”. BBC, 14 December
China Covid: 'Panic-buying' and shortages as restrictions are eased. China is facing problems with stockpiling after it relaxed its most severe Covid-19 policies. People have been rushing to buy ibuprofen, cold medicines and testing kits amid reports of shortages. A new report part-funded by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention warns Beijing to rapidly roll out booster shots and antiviral drugs as well as enforce social controls to avoid a death toll of close to 1 million people. BBC, FT, 14 December
Relief and confusion: inside China as the country hurtles from virus-free to mass infections. Anonymous. The Guardian, 15 December
US Senate votes to ban TikTok on government devices. The US Senate has passed a bill that bars federal employees from using TikTok, the short video-sharing app, on government-issued devices in the latest move by Washington to target Chinese technology companies. FT, 15 December
Hong Kong activist who staged Tiananmen vigil has conviction overturned. Hong Kong's top court has overturned the conviction of an activist who tried to stage a Tiananmen Square vigil last year, finding police acted unlawfully. Lawyer Chow Hang-tung will remain in custody as she faces two other charges under the city's national security law. BBC, 15 December
Written evidence on the UK’s Integrated Review update. Evidence submitted by Oxford China Policy Lab and Beijing to Britain has been published by the UK Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee. It includes recommendations for improving the UK’s China capabilities and setting up a cross-departmental ‘China House’. Parliament.uk, 14 December
US charges China student with stalking peer who put up pro-democracy fliers. US prosecutors say Xiaolei Wu, 25, sent threats to a girl and also reported her family to authorities in China after she put up fliers calling for greater political freedom in China. BBC, 15 December
Xi Jinping doubles down on his Putin bet. Having long admired his Russia counterpart, the Chinese leader is strengthening ties between the two nations with increased trade and energy partnerships. WSJ, 14 December
Border clashes between India and China ‘regularly covered up’. India is covering up the true extent of border clashes with China to avoid panicking the public, senior Indian Army sources have told The Telegraph. The Telegraph, 14 December
China will soon be military threat in Atlantic, says UK defence chief. The Times, 15 December
Biden pushes US as a crucial ally to African leaders. Independent, 14 December
Economy & tech
China to hold meeting on economic targets despite Covid. Chinese leaders are planning to proceed with the closely watched Central Economic Work Conference in Beijing this week, opting not to postpone the gathering as Covid infections surge across the capital, according to people familiar with the matter. Bloomberg, 14 December
China restricts export of industrial data as Beijing seeks to enhance data security. Industrial data that needs to be exported should undergo a security assessment, according to new regulations published by the MIIT. SCMP, 14 December
Taipei, Beijing trade barbs over latest import bans as Taiwan plans WTO case. Thousands of Taiwanese food and drink products – from seafood to alcohol – have been blocked from mainland China. SCMP, 14 December
Decline in Chinese home prices persists, with sluggish demand countering Beijing’s support measures. SCMP, 15 December
Long reads & opinion
The global economic disruptions from a Taiwan conflict. Charlie Vest, Agatha Kratz, and Reva Goujon. Rhodium Group, 14 December
The market for 5G RAN in Europe: share of Chinese and non-Chinese vendors in 31 European countries. Strand Consult, 14 December
Can China continue to balance between Saudi Arabia and Iran? Jesse Marks. The Diplomat, 14 December
COP15: Whose business is nature anyway? Catherine Early. China Dialogue, 14 December
Job opening: The Interparliamentary Alliance on China is recruiting for an Office Manager to help run their offices. Apply here.