China News - 15 January 2021
News from CRG
Our regular events series will restart next week. All times in GMT.
Thursday 21 January at 6:30pm | US-China relations under Biden: what will change? Join us for expert insight from Gideon Rachman (Chief Foreign Affairs Commentator at the FT), Evan Medeiros (Former Director for China at the NSC and lead advisor on Asia-Pacific to President Obama) and Jude Blanchette (Freeman Chair in China Studies at CSIS). Register here.
Tuesday 26 January at 10am | CCP influence and interference in the UK with Charles Parton, Mareike Ohlberg and Juliet Samuel. Register here.
Tuesday 2 February at 10am | In conversation with Sherard Cowper-Coles (Chair of China-Britain Business Council). Register here.
Tuesday 16 February at 10am | What does China really think of Britain? With Professor Rana Mitter. Register here.
International
EU goes softer on China’s subsidies than on Britain’s. Beijing has secured a greater threshold for subsidies under the EU-China CAI is than Britain did in its deal, Politico reports. Also, in direct contrast to the UK-EU agreement, fights over what the parties see as the harm done by subsidies are explicitly excluded from the dispute resolution mechanism envisaged in the Beijing-Brussels deal. Politico, 15 January
UK government faces battle over giving courts power to rule on genocide. The Foreign Office is seeking to stave off a parliamentary defeat over an all party amendment which gives UK high courts the power to make a preliminary determination on genocide. US China hawks Marco Rubio and Jeff Merkley have urged UK legislators to support the amendment. The Telegraph, The Guardian, 15 January
Former solicitor-general defends QC accused over Jimmy Lai case. Lord Garnier, QC, said that David Perry, QC, was professionally obliged to take on the case as a member of the Hong Kong Bar but conceded that it appeared “politically strange”. The Times, 15 January
Hongkongers with British links face ban on holding public office. The Times, 14 January
Hong Kong internet provider blocks pro-democracy website, raising fears Beijing will extend Great Firewall of China to financial hub. FT, 14 January
U.S. commission says China possibly committed 'genocide' against Xinjiang Muslims. The Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) said new evidence had emerged in the past year that “crimes against humanity - and possibly genocide - are occurring” in Xinjiang. Reuters, 14 January
China and European ‘17+1’ nations ‘revive summit plans, aiming for February. Beijing wants to signal its ties with Europe to the new US administration, European diplomat says. SCMP, 14 January
Canada's Trudeau urges unified front against China detentions, says all nations vulnerable. “We must all stand together because who knows whose citizens might be next?” Reuters, 15 January
Australian government raises fears about the 'human cost' of China coal standoff, with Canberra “year to hear anything through official channels” about any change in Beijing’s treatment. The Guardian, 15 January
US taking additional actions on South China Sea, says Mike Pompeo. Pompeo added CNOOC to the US blacklist and announced other measures including new visa restrictions on Chinese individuals. SCMP, 14 January
Biden picks Clinton adviser Laura Rosenberger as White House China director. Reuters, 15 January
US charges MIT professor Gang Chen with failing to disclose millions of dollars of funding allegedly from China. SCMP, 14 January
China watch
COVID-19: 20,000 villagers relocated to quarantine sites in North China. CGTN, 15 January
China bans banks from selling deposit products on third-party internet platforms in move to reduce fintech risks. Reuters, 15 January
Economy & tech
US sets out new powers to block Chinese technology. The US commerce department has finalised new rules to make it easier for the federal government to block Americans from importing technology from China and other US adversaries that it decides could threaten national security. FT, 14 January
China ends 2020 with record trade surplus. Exports rose 18.1% y/y in dollar terms compared with 21.1% y/y growth in November. Bloomberg, 14 January
Hong Kong exodus to the UK could spur $36 billion in outflows: Bank of America study reports. Bloomberg, 15 Janary
Chip shortages continue to disrupt China’s production of automobiles. Caixin, 15 January
Longer reads & opinion
China’s pressure and propaganda - the reality of reporting Xinjiang. BBC, 15 January
Chaguan: Many in China are strikingly accepting of harsh virus controls. The Economist, 14 January
The West once dreamed of democracy taking root in rural China. But the party clearly expects the current elections to produce the results it wants. The Economist, 14 January
China’s goals for Wang Yi’s Asian tour. The Diplomat, 15 January