China News - 16 October
International
Israel-Hamas war tests China’s Middle East ambitions. In a region typically dominated by the US, the turmoil will show whether Beijing can turn its economic clout and relationship with Iran into regional influence. Joe Leahy, Edward White and Andy Lin. Financial Times, 15 October
China’s Foreign Minister calls US Secretary of State on crisis in Israel and Gaza. Wang told Blinken that “China opposes all acts that harm civilians and condemns practices that violate international law” and that “China calls for the convening of an international peace conference as soon as possible”. Joe Cash. Reuters, 14 October
Borrell calls on China to treat the EU as a “geopolitical power” in its own right. The EU’s chief diplomat, Josep Borrell, has called on Beijing to take it seriously as a geopolitical power in its own right rather than look at the bloc “through the lens” of its ties with third powers. Joe Leahy. Financial Times, 14 October
Putin to visit China to deepen “no limits” partnership with Xi. The Russian President will attend the Belt and Road Forum this week, which will mark his first trip outside the former Soviet Union since the ICC issued a warrant for him. Guy Faulconbridge. Reuters, 15 October
Economy & Tech
Law firm Wilson Sonsini explores Singapore office as China dealmaking slows. Beijing’s regulatory crackdown has pushed many Chinese investors and companies to expand elsewhere. Mercedes Ruehl and Tabby Kinder. Financial Times, 15 October
Huawei pushes back on the EU calling it “high-risk”. The company filed a complaint with the European Ombudsman office last month after Thierry Breton described it as a “high-risk” supplier. Matthieu Pollet. POLITICO, 13 October
TikTok courier slashes $1bn Hong Kong IPO target on weak investor demand. J&T Express was forced to lower the fundraising target owing to a lacklustre investor response. Hudson Lockett, Cheng Leng and Mercedes Ruehl. Financial Times, 14 October
China discovers never-before-seen ore containing a highly valuable rare earth element. The new ore, dubbed niobobaotite, was discovered in Inner Mongolia’s Bayan Obo deposit. Stephanie Pappas. Space, 15 October
Opinion & long-reads
Israel-Hamas war upends China’s ambitions in the Middle East but may serve Beijing in the end. A professor of IR at Renmin University said “for a while at least, Beijing’s Middle East policy is paralysed by the war. The US, which strongly supports Israel, is directly or indirectly involved. Who is there to listen to China?”. Didi Tang. AP News, 15 October
China’s economic partnership with Russia is so lopsided that Putin needs the help of the US- but he’d never admit that, think tank says. Thomas Graham, a fellow at a New York based think tank said, “isolated from the West, Moscow has fallen ever deeper in Beijing’s embrace”. Jennifer Sor. businessinsider, 13 October