China News - 15 October 2020
New MI5 head says Russian and Chinese threats to UK 'growing in severity', describes China as the growing long-term challenge with MI5 “looking to do more”. Giving his first public speech since his appointment in April, Ken McCallum said that while Russia poses the biggest state-based threat to the UK, China is the long-term challenge "changing the climate". McCallum added that while Beijing’s espionage efforts typically take the form of “hacking commercially sensitive information or commercially sensitive data, and intellectual property”, UK spies have also detected attempts by Chinese counterparts to influence politics.
But McCallum said the UK needed to proceed carefully on China because of the economic impact of total disengagement. He said Britain needed “a broad conversation across government and, crucially, beyond, to reach wise judgments around how the UK interacts with China on both opportunities and risks”. The Guardian, Sky, 15 October
Universities plan secret seminars to tackle foreign interference, according to new Universities UK guidance. New guidance would apply to all UK universities, extending measures announced by Oxford and SOAS. Students could be asked submit coursework anonymously and attend seminars without being identified under guidance issued today to tackle foreign interference in British universities. The guidance from Universities UK warns that extra-territorial jurisdiction has a “potentially chilling” effect on campuses. China’s national security law makes it an offence to make subversive statements about the Chinese Communist Party, regardless of citizenship or location. The Times, 15 October
The Times leader: Safeguarding Scholarship. Universities need to protect themselves from hostile foreign interference. 15 October
China's Sinopharm offered experimental vaccine to students going abroad – state media reports. State media reported the company was offering its vaccines to students in Beijing and Wuhan set to travel abroad, but that the trial had been suspended. The offer appeared to be the latest example of the company using an emergency-use approval to distribute vaccines to hundreds of thousands of people outside of clinical trials.The Guardian, WSJ, 15 October
Chinese banks are chasing Anil Ambani through the UK courts, seeking to enforce an order made in May by London High Court instructing him to pay back $717m of loans. FT, 14 October
China watch:
Shenzhen 40th anniversary: A symbol of China’s ambition as Xi visits to announce new long-term plan for the city, stressing need for domestic innovation and the city’s regional importance. Nikkei Asia, People’s Daily, 14 October
Analysis: The Times: Shenzhen’s success signals it will eclipse Hong Kong as the powerhouse of southwest China. China Media Project: There was a rare mention of the key phrase “Xi Jinping Thought on Soccialism with Chinese Characteristics for the New Era”, for the first time in Xi’s presence since January - a key marker of consolidation of Xi’s power.
Chinese mainland launches special operation into Taiwan spy activities, which Taiwan dismisses as fake news. CGTN, Reuters, 14 October
Analysis: Reuters: China is stepping up its campaign against Taiwan with a new tactic: a series of spying allegations and confessions aired on state television, bearing some similarities to the forced confessions broadcast in Canada and the UK in 2019 on Chinese state television.
China adheres to people-centred approach in human rights protection, “lauded” at UNHRC over increased prosperity, condemns the US’ “coercive diplomacy” in order to crush Huawei (People’s Daily, 2)
Economy and tech
China growth limits global economic damage from pandemic, IMF says - and without China “cumulative growth for 2020 and 2021 is negative.” WSJ, 14 October
Trump administration to consider adding China's Ant Group to trade blacklist ahead of IPO after US State Department submits proposal - Reuters report. Reuters, 15 October
Tussle over Taiwan’s oldest privately owned company raises fears of Chinese infiltration. FT, 14 October
Longer reads & opinion
Listen: CGTN in London podcast. Last year, China's international state-run broadcaster, CGTN, spent millions opening a state-of-the-art London headquarters. The Little Red Podcast
Listen: How Taiwan is Using Technology to Foster Democracy (with Digital Minister Audrey Tang). HBR, 14 October
China losing interest in Australian coal isn't about diplomacy – it's simply market dynamics in the face of China’s push for self-sufficiency. Alex Turnbull in The Guardian, 14 October
Commentary: How China could push Europe and India closer together. ECFR