China News - 15 March 2021
International
Uighurs harassed and abused by Beijing in UK, minister admits. The Government has admitted for the first time that Uighurs are being targeted by China on British soil "in an effort to intimidate them into silence". Ministers have complained directly to the Chinese embassy in London, and more than a dozen MPs are set to demand an UQ in the Commons. The Telegraph, 13 March
Even in the UK I don’t feel safe from the pernicious reach of the Chinese state. Rahima Mahmut in The Telegraph, 13 March
Dozens killed and Chinese factories torched in Myanmar’s deadliest day. Beijing enjoyed good relations with Aung San Suu Kyi’s government, but many anti-regime protestors are convinced Beijing backed the coup. FT, 15 March
China in 'state of ongoing non-compliance' over Hong Kong, Raab says. Raab made his strongest criticism yet, saying the rule changes mark Beijing’s third breach in 9 months. The G7’s foreign ministers issued a joint statement condemning the electoral law changes. The Chinese embassy has refuted the statements. Sky News, Politico, 12 March
Australian parliament refuses to label China’s Xinjiang actions as genocide. Senate votes 33-12 against motion calling on China to end the ‘persecution of Uyhgurs’. SCMP, 15 March
Beijing sees orange as sandstorm brings worst air since 2017. Bloomberg, 15 March
Imagination Technologies loses chief of staff after Chinese ownership row. He is the fourth executive to leave in less than a year. The Telegraph, 14 March
Tomorrow’s Integrated Review
UK’s long-awaited 100-page Integrated Review ‘Global Britain in a Competitive Age’ set to be published tomorrow. It will be followed by the Defence Command Paper on March 22. The weekend papers trailed some key positions.
The Sunday Times reports Russia will be branded as a “hostile state” and its “biggest state-based threat”, with China primarily treated as a commercial “competitor” and “global challenge” with the approach “compete where necessary, co-operate where possible, counteract when necessary.” The UK will also seek partners in the Indo-Pacific, and seek to become a “dialogue partner” of Asean.
The Times sets out the four main chapters in the IR: science and technology, the open international order of the future, security and building resilience at home and overseas. “It won’t say it explicitly but this is all about building a bulwark against China,” a senior government source said. “It’s building a series of alliances on trade and defence and harnessing soft power to stem the increasing threat.”
The Mail on Sunday reports that Boris Johnson will establish a new “cyber corridor” in the North and Midlands, and that the report will single out China as ‘posing through the most serious geopolitical threat to Britain’ through espionage, hacking and 'soft power’.
The Telegraph expects a £80 billion upgrade and an increase in the number of nuclear warheads that Britain can stockpile, signalling a new direction on nuclear non-proliferation.
The FT expects both an Asian tilt and “Global Britain” policy focused on structures such as Nato and the bilateral “E3” relationship where the UK, France and Germany have created a joint Iran policy outside of the EU framework.
In The Guardian, Patrick Wintour’s long read on the Indo-Pacific Tilt sets the scene for the IR.
Reaction: Former head of the National Cyber Security Centre labels UK’s position on China ‘confusing’ in The Times. Tom Tugendhat told the MailOnline: 'Even Brussels describes Beijing as a systemic rival.’
Economy & tech
Chinese economy continues its pandemic bounce back. Its industrial output surged in January and February compared to last year. BBC, 15 March
Jack Ma’s finance lieutenant walks away in wake of China clampdown. Ant Group chief Simon Hu had been in charge since 2019. The Telegraph, 12 March
Investors see ‘gold rush on steroids’ for green battery metals. It’s not just China this time, it’s North America at the same time as China, and Europe at the same time as China.” FT, 12 March
Longer reads & opinion
Leader: The Times view on British judges in Hong Kong: True Justice. British judges should resign from Hong Kong’s highest court. The Times, 15 March
Comment: China is not as invincible as it looks. Some countries are finding it far from all-powerful, argues Edward Lucas in The Times, 14 March
Comment: China and Russia have seized the initiative in battle for cyberspace. General Sir Patrick Sanders in The Times, 13 March
Comment: America is headed to a showdown over Taiwan, and China might win. Max Hastings in Bloomberg, 14 March
The week ahead
Monday
Biden officials travel to Tokyo for 2+2 meetings with Japanese counterparts.
Tuesday
The Integrated Review, the UK’s long-awaited review of its foreign and defence policy, is released. Boris Johnson set to give statement in Commons.
Wednesday:
Hong Kong election bill requiring all public officers to pledge allegiance to Beijing set to be introduced to its legislature.
Committee action: At 10am, former Chancellor George Osborne gives evidence to the Lords International Relations and Defence committee on the UK’s relationship with China. At 9:30am, Kwasi Karteng and Dominic Cummings give evidence on new UK research funding agency to the Science and Technology Committee.
Thursday
Antony Blinken and Jake Sullivan meet Yang Jiechi and Wang Yi in Alaska.
Committee action: At 10am, former Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwill gives evidence to the Lords International Relations committee on the UK’s relationship with China.