China News - 16 February 2021
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International
China targets rare earth export curbs to hobble US and European defence industry. The FT reports that China is exploring whether it can hurt US defence contractors by limiting the export of rare earth minerals that are crucial for the manufacture of F-35 fighter jets and other sophisticated weaponry, according to people involved in a government consultation. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology last month proposed draft controls on the production and export of 17 rare earth minerals in China, which controls about 80 per cent of global supply. FT, Reuters, 16 February
Boris Johnson says world needs pandemic treaty, citing China’s Wuhan. Johnson said he would be keen to sign a global treaty on pandemics where countries agreed to share data, amid British and US concern over access given to a WHO mission to China. SCMP, Reuters, 15 February
High profile pro-democracy figures go on trial over Hong Kong protests. Nine high-profile pro-democracy activists have gone on trial in Hong Kong in one of the biggest court cases linked to the protest movement that paralysed the city for more than a year. Defendants include Martin Lee, Jimmy Lai, Lee Cheuk-yan, and Margaret Ng. The Guardian, 16 February
China tilts to Covid-19 vaccine diplomacy as domestic jab programme lags. Figures show more Chinese-made vaccines have gone overseas than into people’s arms as China’s Lunar New Year vaccination target was missed. SCMP calculates that China has shipped at least 46 million ready-made vaccines or their active ingredients. SCMP, 15 February
China welcomes historic WTO appointment of first woman and African as director general. The Biden administration withdrew US opposition, paving the way for her appointment. Sky News, SCMP, 15 February
China's 'tiger' corruption cases wane, showing Xi's stamp on party. None of the Chinese Communist Party's top 200 officials were ensnared in President Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign last year, suggesting that the pursuit of political enemies has become a lower priority as China's leader has consolidated power. Nikkei Asia, 15 February
Chinese coast guard ships enter Japan's waters near Senkakus, prompting Tokyo to lodge a protest against repeated incursions. Nikkei, 15 February
Calls for apology over forced deportation of thousands of Chinese seamen based in Liverpool in 1946. Liverpool Echo, 15 February
Global Times editor attacks Lib Dem leader Ed Davey over Olympics boycott call. Global Times, 15 February
Economy & tech
China topples the US as Europe’s top trade partner in 2020. China dethroned the US as Europe’s top trade partner in 2020, buoyed by strong demand in China for European goods, and Chinese medical products in Europe. Trade is still single-digits compared to intra-EU trade. Politico, Quartz, 15 February
Ericsson chief slams Europe’s ‘non-functioning’ telecoms market. Borje Ekholm told the FT that it was rational for Europe’s telecoms operators not to invest in next generation 5G networks, because many of them failed to earn their cost of capital. FT, 15 February
Indonesia's investment race shaken up by China as Japan fades. Chinese foreign direct investment in Indonesia, including flows from Hong Kong, rose 11% to $8.4 billion last year, according to the Indonesian Investment Coordinating Board. FDI from South Korea jumped 64% to $1.8 billion. Nikkei Asia, 15 February
Semiconductor cycle out of balance after customers stock up. At a time of year that is usually low season for electronics, the industry is in the throes of one of its worst shortages. FT, 15 February
BHP sees robust demand for metal in China, declares record dividend. The world's largest listed miner said in a statement it expects a continuation of strong Chinese demand in 2021. Nikkei Asia, The Times, 15 February
Longer reads & opinion
How Britain’s CGTN ban shows Western insecurity over China’s rise. “In banning CGTN, the UK is reaching for a tool in China’s governance toolkit: censorship”. Written by two British academics from University of Nottingham Ningbo, China. SCMP, 15 February
China’s crackdown on Muslims extends to a resort island, once celebrated for its religious diversity by the CCP. NYT, 14 February
The UK cannot attend the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics in good conscience. Hassan Joudi is deputy secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain in Times Red Box, 15 February
Europe can’t stay neutral in US-China stand-off. Michael Schuman in Politico, 16 February
China’s ban on the BBC highlights the growing influence of Beijing on Hong Kong. Quartz, 15 February
5G and Emerging Technology: The Politics of Diversification. RUSI, 15 February
UK-China Film Collab is co-presenting an online Chinese Cinema Season in the UK and Ireland, with 50+ films. The Chinese Uyghur director Lina Wang’s debut, A First Farewell, is currently showing. See more here.