China News - 15 June 2021
Event tomorrow: Briefing on the recent evidence of PRC disinformation targeting the UK with the Democracy and Technology team from the Oxford Internet Institute at 1:15pm tomorrow (16th June): sign up here.
International
UK and Australia announce new trade deal. The agreement is the first trade deal to be built from scratch since the UK left the EU and is seen as an important step towards the UK joining a wider Asia Pacific free-trade agreement. BBC, Sky News, The Guardian, 15 June
Evidence submitted by Uyghur Tribunal witnesses last week raised as an Urgent Question. The question was submitted by Iain Duncan Smith MP, with MPs from several parties questioning the UK Government about the allegations raised during the hearings. BBC, 14 June
Nato warns China’s military ambitions threaten international order. Nato leaders have declared China presents a security risk at their annual summit in Brussels, the first time the traditionally Russia-focused military alliance has asserted it needs to respond to Beijing’s growing power. A joint communique said Beijing presents “systemic challenges” for the transatlantic security alliance. FT, The Guardian, BBC, Al Jazeera ,14 June
China denounces G7 statement, says US has ‘sinister intentions’. China’s embassy in London said on Monday it was strongly dissatisfied and resolutely opposed to mentions of Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Taiwan that distorted the facts and exposed the “sinister intentions of a few countries such as the United States”. Al Jazeera, BBC, The Guardian, 14 June
French nuclear firm trying to fix ‘performance issue’ at China plant. Framatome, a subsidiary of the energy giant EDF, reportedly warned of an ‘imminent radiological threat’ at Taishan nuclear power plant. The Guardian, BBC, Independent, NYT, 14 June
Top Chinese virologist at centre of pandemic storm speaks out. The virologist, Shi Zhengli, said in a rare interview that speculation about her lab in Wuhan was baseless. NYT, 14 June
U.S. fight against Chinese 5G efforts shifts from threats to incentives. The U.S. government is ratcheting up pressure on Beijing’s 5G ambitions overseas, offering financial incentives and other enticements to countries willing to shun telecom gear made by Huawei and ZTE. WSJ, 14 June
Hong Kong-Taiwan spat threatens cross-Strait business. Official representation between Hong Kong and Taiwan is set to end this year as mounting political tensions threaten one of the region’s most important trade and investment relationships. Analysts said that cutting official channels would undermine Hong Kong’s traditional role as a conduit for business and financial exchanges between Taiwan and China. FT, 14 June
U.S. officials worry about Russia’s growing links to China. As President Joe Biden meets Russian leader Vladimir Putin, he and his aides are paying close attention to the Moscow-Beijing dynamic. Politico, 14 June
ASEAN defense ministers to meet as South China Sea tensions rise. Nikkei Asia, 15 June
China's reliance on Australian iron ore is a 'strategic weakness' for Xi Jinping. ABC, 14 June
Greece is not abandoning China even though others are, ambassador says. CNBC, 14 June
China focus
China has promised to go carbon-neutral by 2060, but coal is still king. The country has invested heavily in solar, wind and nuclear energy. Yet coal-fired heavy industry still made up about 37% of all its economic activity last year, and some provinces are even planning to increase coal-fired power generation. NPR, SCMP, 14 June
China census: migration drives Han population growth in Xinjiang. The region’s Uyghur community grew 16% in the decade to 2020 compared with 25% for Han Chinese. SCMP, 15 June
The buzzwords reflecting the frustration of China's young generation. BBC, 13 June
Shenzhou-12: China to launch first human spaceflight since 2016. Al Jazeera, The Guardian, 14 June
Economy & tech
China approves highest-ever outflows for mainland investors. A cumulative $147bn of approvals have been added to the nation’s qualified domestic institutional investor scheme, which allows investors to access assets outside mainland China through banks and other institutions. FT, 15 June
China’s closed borders ‘a real problem’ for foreign business operations amid coronavirus. Many firms fear that draconian travel restrictions may result in a fundamental shift away from the way business was done in China before the coronavirus. SCMP, 15 June
What tech investors are looking for in China. FT, 14 June
Shein clothing beats Amazon in app downloads after emerging from Trump trade war. Bloomberg, 14 June
Long reads & opinion
Expansive G7 buries era of the small state. Past ideals to make government do less will have little effect in tackling China and big tech. James Kirkup. The Times, 14 June
G7 summit reveals a consensus emerging on challenging President Xi of China. Lord Owen. The Times, 15 June
Expect China to be furious at being cast as a threat to the west. Vincent Ni. The Guardian, 14 June
Testing times for Britain’s private schools. The pandemic has driven away Chinese pupils, not only hitting fee revenue but also exposing deeper cultural problems. FT, 15 June
It’s Russia, Stupid (For Now). Biden wants to focus on China. That’s a gift to Putin. Elise Labott. Foreign Policy, 14 June
The Soviet Origins of Xi’s Xinjiang Policy. Behind the CCP’s horrific crackdown in Xinjiang is a desperate drive to avoid the mistakes that led to the USSR’s collapse. Christopher Vassallo. The Diplomat, 12 June
Podcast: Apple’s bet on China. When the technology giant first started doing business in China, it thought it would change the country. Decades later, the reverse is true. NYT, 14 June
The Millennial Cadres Running China’s Neighbourhoods. Highly educated and professional, the new generation of low-level officials is stressed out and frustrated about their limited career prospects. Wang Defu. Sixth Tone, 12 June
China: Two Key Questions. Sheena Chestnut Greitens. Democracy Journal, 12 June