China News - 16 September 2021
International
UK, US and Australia launch pact to counter China. The Aukus pact, announced yesterday, is one of the countries' biggest defence partnerships in decades. It will let Australia build nuclear-powered submarines for the first time, using technology provided by the US. But it also extends to knowledge-sharing in artificial intelligence, cyber and quantum technologies, marking a step change from the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing partnership. BBC, Politico, 15 September
Reaction to Aukus
US’s Asia allies welcome Australia security pact in face of assertive China. Officials in Taipei welcomed the shift in strategy, while former Japanese foreign and defence minister Taro Kono told reporters “we very much welcome that the UK is once again turning its eyes to the Pacific region”. FT, 16 September
Reaction in Europe: France warns ‘Aukus’ alliance threatens security partnerships in Indo-Pacific. A joint statement released by the French foreign minister and armed forces minister said “the American choice to exclude a European ally and partner such as France from a structuring partnership with Australia…shows a lack of coherence that France can only note and regret.” SCMP, The Times, 16 September
New Zealand: New Zealand’s longstanding nuclear-free policy means that Australian submarines developed under the deal are banned from NZ waters. But PM Jacinda Ardern said the new agreement “in no way changes our security and intelligence ties with these three countries, as well as Canada”. The Guardian, 16 September
Reaction in Beijing. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Zhao Lijian, said the decision was “extremely irresponsible” and told the three countries to abandon their Cold War mentality. The Guardian, 16 September
Liz Truss replaces Dominic Raab as foreign secretary in reshuffle. Former International Trade Secretary Liz Truss has been promoted to the Secretary of State for the FCDO. Truss has previously called for less dependence on China in her trade role. Nigel Adams was also named as a Minister of State without portfolio, meaning a new Minister of State for Asia is likely to be announced today. Sky News, Beijing to Britain briefing, 15 September
Boris Johnson expected to be hosted by Joe Biden at White House next week. The Telegraph, 16 September
Von der Leyen’s State of the Union speech: emphasis on China. On Wednesday, Ursula von der Leyen delivered her State of the Union speech, which included details about Europe’s BRI alternative, the new European Chips Act and forced labour legislation. Politico, 15 September
China denies German warship entry into harbour, Berlin says. A German frigate, currently on a six-month mission to the South China Sea, was denied entry to an unnamed Chinese harbour. Reuters, 16 September
China focus
China’s rejuvenation to the fore as Xi Jinping opens National Games. President Xi Jinping joined the opening ceremony, which sought to present an image of a confident and united China, including ethnic minority groups. SCMP, 15 September
China’s biggest movie star disappeared from the Internet, and the mystery is why. Zhao Wei spent the past two decades as China’s equivalent of Reese Witherspoon, a beloved actress turned business mogul, but searches for her name on the country’s biggest video-streaming sites come up blank. WSJ, 15 September
Earthquake leaves three dead and 60 injured in China's Sichuan. CNN, 16 September
Economy & tech
Evergrande discloses $3m investment by founder’s wife to placate investors. Hundreds of shareholders have descended on the group’s Shenzhen headquarters to demand their money back on wealth management products, in a rare display of public anger. FT, 16 September
West shouldn’t misinterpret or overstate Beijing’s new tech regulations, ex-Google China exec says. CNBC, 15 September