China News - 16 May 2023
International
Britain and Japan sign renewed science and technology deal. The renewed deal opens up more opportunities for close collaboration on priority areas like semiconductors and clean tech. Gov.uk, 15 May
G7 host Japan seeks unity on China threat. As G7 leaders gather in Japan this weekend, projecting a unified G7 response to China’s military ambitions and its use of ‘economic coercion’ is a top priority for Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida. Kana Inagaki, Demetri Sevastopulo and Henry Foy. Financial Times, 16 May
Chinese envoy begins 'political settlement' tour of Ukraine and Russia. Li Hui, China's special representative for Eurasian affairs and former ambassador to Russia, will also visit Poland, France, Germany on the multi-day trip. Reuters, 15 May
Chinese extraterritorial police stations still active in Germany. German security authorities believe that China is still conducting police activities on German soil even though Beijing assured Berlin in February that it had ceased to do so, according to a statement by the German foreign and interior ministries on Monday. Reuters, 15 May
Russian prime minister to attend business forum in China. Mikhail Mishustin is due to visit Shanghai next week, as Moscow’s economic dependency on China grows. Max Seddon and Anastasia Stognei. Financial Times, 15 May
US to sign pacts with Micronesia and PNG as Washington seeks to counter China in Pacific. Papua New Guinea’s prime minister, Jamas Marape, confirmed that his country’s agreements with the US would be signed when Joe Biden becomes the first sitting US president to visit the Pacific nation next week. The Guardian, 16 May
Experts push US Congress for more skilled immigrants to compete with China. More than five dozen experts have called for the House China Select Committee to address ‘immigration bottlenecks’ for international science and engineering graduate students and workers. Alison Snyder and Sophia Cai. Axios, 15 May
Economy & tech
China’s economic recovery in doubt as industrial output falls short. Industrial production added 5.6 per cent last month from a year earlier, well below forecasts of a 10.6 per cent rise. New data adds to a growing sense that China has failed to fully recover from the removal of strict anti-Covid lockdowns late last year. Thomas Hale, Hudson Lockett and Andy Lin. Financial Times, 16 May
Ex-ByteDance employee claims China had ‘supreme access’ to all data. The CCP had access to all data held by TikTok-owner Bytedance, including on US servers, according to a former employee who is bringing a wrongful termination lawsuit against the company. Bytedance has vowed to contest the allegations. Laura He and Ramishah Maruf. CNN, 15 May
China’s US$220 billion biotech initiative is struggling to take off. Despite enormous investment in the sector since 2015 and several major IPOs, the nation approved its first mRNA vaccine only this year. Bloomberg, 15 May
China Focus
China cracks down on ‘bride prices’ to boost birth rate. Concerned about China's first population drop in six decades and its rapidly ageing population, officials are introducing a raft of policies to usher in a ‘new era’ of marriage and childbearing. Harriet Barber. The Telegraph, 15 May
China youth unemployment hits record 20.4% in April. China’s economy struggles to absorb new workers even as the overall labour force declines. Jill Elaine Disis. Bloomberg, 16 May
China aims for better-skilled population, to improve childcare. China needs to focus on education, science and technology to develop a better-skilled population, according to the state-backed People's Daily. Meanwhile, broadcaster CCTV announced government plans to double the number of childcare centres by 2025. Farah Master. Reuters, 16 May
China’s rural law enforcement team faces public criticism. The Agricultural Comprehensive Administrative Law Enforcement team – referred to as nongguan, or ‘agriculture management’ - was set up in January. According to a procurement list circulating on Chinese social media, the rural force is equipped with night-vision goggles, signal jammers, stab-proof vests and stun batons. William Zheng. South China Morning Post, 16 May
Opinion & long reads
Evidence Briefs: Products made with forced labour in the Uyghur region. The Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice has published a review of the sectors most significantly affected by forced labor in Xinjiang. Sheffield Hallam University, 15 May
Europe can’t decide how to unplug from China. The Economist calls for a measured debate about proposed ‘de-risking’. The Economist, 15 May
Mysterious Killing of Chinese Gold Miners Puts New Pressure on Beijing. The massacre of nine workers in the Central African Republic raises questions about China’s ability to protect its citizens overseas. Nicole Hong and Elian Peltier. The New York Times, 15 May
Italy’s Exports to China Are Booming and It’s Not Clear Why. Italy’s exports to China have tripled in little more than a year. Giovanni Salzano and Daniele Lepido. Bloomberg, 15 May