China News - 15 February 2022
New podcast: CCP interference activities in the UK. CRG researcher Chris Cash sat down with Martin Thorley, an expert on Chinese party-state activity in the UK, to discuss the work of the United Front and the Christine Lee case, protecting East Asian diaspora communities, and the UK and China’s ‘phoney peace’. You can listen here.
International
UK and Canada officially file to join the EU's WTO consultations with China over Lithuania coercion case. 14 February
China’s Shenghe to acquire stake in Australian firm building UK rare earth refinery. Chinese rare earth producer Shenghe Resources has agreed to buy a 19.9% stake in Australia-based Peak Rare Earths “to secure more overseas resources amid surging prices”. Peak Rare Earths operates a rare earth mine in Tanzania, and plans to build the UK’s first-ever refinery in Tees Valley. Mining Technology, 14 February
UK-based Hong Kong rights group says website not accessible through some networks. The website of Hong Kong Watch could not be accessed through some networks in the city, stoking concerns of internet censorship in the global financial hub. Reuters, 15 February
Chinese and Taiwanese trade pact bids on CPTPP agenda this week. The trade bloc’s commission will discuss membership applications from the two parties at a meeting on Thursday, with Japan’s influence seen as key. SCMP, 14 February
Rocket on collision course with the moon ‘built by China not SpaceX’. After a case of mistaken identity, the rocket is now said to be 2014-065B, the booster for the Chang’e 5-T1, launched in 2014 as part of the Chinese space agency’s lunar exploration program. The Guardian, 15 February
New Zealand to lower barriers to Chinese investment under upgraded trade deal. SCMP, 15 February
Taiwan says Chinese plane flew close to remote island. Reuters, 15 February
Winter Olympics speed skating spat stokes anti-China hostility in South Korea. FT, 15 February
Economy & tech
Tencent invests in Oxford’s First Light Fusion. A business in Oxford working on nuclear fusion technology has raised $45 million from investors including Tencent, of China, to help it to research the potential of commercialising what is hoped will be a virtually limitless source of clean energy. The Times, 15 February
China developers' bonds extend slide on repayment concerns. Bonds of Chinese property developers continued to fall on Tuesday, underscoring investor worries in the beleaguered sector following weak sales data and fresh rating downgrades. Reuters, 15 February
Didi starts companywide lay-offs amid unresolved cybersecurity probe, ongoing delisting in New York. SCMP, 15 February
BMW sees $9.1 billion profit boost from raising China stake. Caixin, 12 February
China focus
The universities and disciplines China aims to turn into world-beaters. Beijing has revealed expanded plans to lift its universities to world-class level and nurture a wide range of disciplines as part of its push to create a higher education sector to support the country’s economic development. SCMP, 15 February
Hong Kong turns public housing into Covid quarantine facilities as it battles Omicron surge. Hong Kong’s leader, Carrie Lam, has said an “onslaught” of Covid-19 infections has dealt a heavy blow and overwhelmed capacity to deal with the virus. The Guardian, 15 February
China takes on local governments over financial asset exchanges. Nikkei Asia, 14 February
‘We’re going backward’: Chinese viewers upset by censorship of LGBTQ content in ‘Friends’. SupChina, 14 February
Opinion & editorial
Modern warfare is catching companies in its crossfire. States are increasingly using IP theft, business acquisitions and cyber attacks to harm adversaries. Elisabeth Braw. FT, 14 February
Digital currencies carry threats as well as promises. The proliferation of new financial technologies calls for better cross-border regulation and supervision. Eswar Prasad. FT, 14 February
Chinese support for a Russian attack on Ukraine cannot be cost-free. Beijing backing Moscow should trigger a rethink of China-European relations. Bonnie S. Glaser and Andrew Small. Foreign Policy, 14 February
A succession drama starring Xi Jinping. If Xi has ideas about a successor, he has hidden them well. Chris Buckley. NYT, 14 February