If you missed yesterday’s event with Jeremy Hunt, George Magnus and Elizabeth Economy, you can listen to the recording on our ‘Talks on China’ podcast, or read the transcript here.
International
Hong Kong pro-democracy figures given jail terms of up to 18 months. A group of high-profile Hong Kong pro-democracy activists have been sentenced to jail terms of up to 18 months for organising or attending “unauthorised assemblies” during mass protests that rocked the city in 2019. Jimmy Lai was jailed for 12 months. The Guardian, BBC, The Telegraph, 16 April
China's economy grows 18.3% year-on-year in post-Covid comeback. The data for the first quarter of 2021 highlights the strength of its recovery. Despite the eye-watering year-on-year figures, officials and economists sounded a note of caution over aspects of the recovery, as well as its pace compared with the previous quarter, against which it grew 0.6 per cent. BBC, FT, 16 April
UK makes cars and whisky key targets in push for India trade deal. The UK government believes Johnson’s visit represents a rare opportunity as the Asian country rethinks its place in the world. A Number 10 note says: “India is recalibrating its China policy and wants to pursue deeper trade relationships with reliable partners such as the UK.” FT, 15 April
Xi to join climate talks with Merkel, Macron before Biden’s Earth Day summit. The news comes as as US climate envoy John Kerry spends a second day in talks with officials in Shanghai. SCMP, 15 April
Batches of 50 to 100 Uyghur workers are being advertised on Baidu. Baidu did not respond to a request for comment. Sky News, 16 April
China may send peacekeeping force to Afghanistan after US troops leave, observers say. SCMP, 16 April
Australian defence chief says war between China and Taiwan would be ‘disastrous’. The Guardian, 15 April
Parties to Iran nuclear deal should remove all disturbances, speed up talks: Chinese envoy. Xinhua, 16 April
China summons Japanese ambassador over Fukushima water plan. SCMP, 15 April
China watch
Shanghai half marathon ditches Adidas shirts ahead of Sunday’s race over Xinjiang cotton row. The Better Cotton Initiative has also been attacked by Communist Youth League for removing statement on forced labour. SCMP, Reuters, 16 April
Beijing hit by third sandstorm in five weeks. The Guardian, 15 April
Economy & tech
TSMC faces pressure to choose a side in US-China tech war. Taiwan on Wednesday challenged reports that technology from TSMC and Taipei-based chip designer Alchip supported Chinese military development. FT, 16 April
Romania approves bill to bar China, Huawei from 5G networks. Reuters, 15 April
Longer reads & opinion
Comment: Biden’s Afghanistan withdrawal is a blow for China. Most of China’s interests in Afghanistan are predicated on political stability and the absence of violence. The prospect of both have been greatly diminished by Biden’s withdrawal announcement. Bloomberg, 16 April
China figures out how to produce must-watch propaganda television. ‘Minning Town’ has been a smash hit. WSJ, 15 April
Australia's experience with Chinese trade sanctions: a lesson for Europe? FRS (FR), 16 April
Chaguan: Mao’s revolution becomes a lesson about conformity. The Economist, 16 April
Looking back on early British businesses in China. British Chamber of Commerce, 15 April