China News - 17 June 2022
International
US promises new plan for the Pacific to keep it ‘free from coercion’. The US will launch an initiative with Pacific island nations next week to address their concerns over everything from relations with Washington to illegal fishing, climate change and regional security, Kurt Campbell, a senior official for Asia in the national security council, said on Thursday. The initiative will include the 18-member Pacific Islands Forum, Japan and western powers. The Guardian, 17 June
Biden plans to launch G7 global infrastructure push to counter China. Bloomberg, 16 June
US senators introduce broad Taiwan bill to boost security assistance. The senators' Taiwan Policy Act of 2022 threatens severe sanctions against China for any aggression against Taiwan, and would provide $4.5 billion in foreign military financing over the next four years, as well as designate Taiwan a "major non-NATO ally," according to the text. The sponsors, Bob Menendez and Lindsey Graham, said it would be the most comprehensive restructuring of US policy toward Taiwan since the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979. Reuters, 17 June
Hong Kong bans some media outlets from swearing-in of new chief executive. International and wire outlets were among those reportedly not invited to the 1 July event, which will see the formal swearing in of the former security chief John Lee, and will also mark the 25th anniversary of the British handback of Hong Kong to China. Hong Kong authorities cited pandemic restrictions and security reasons for the barring of media outlets. The Guardian, 17 June
China’s diplomats are trying to broker peace in foreign conflicts. Since Xi Jinping took over, China has played a more active role in reducing tensions abroad, mainly focusing on areas where China has substantial economic interests that could be threatened by local conflict. Chinese diplomats have been active as facilitators of peace talks in numerous places from Afghanistan to South Sudan. The Economist, 17 June
European universities under fire over work with Chinese military. Science Business, 16 June
China launches 'Fujian,' its most advanced aircraft carrier. Nikkei Asia, 17 June
Economy & tech
Chinese stocks emerge as safe haven from bear markets globally. The turnaround in Chinese stocks, which were the world’s worst performers not so long ago amid lockdowns, underscores the resilience of the world’s second-largest equity market to the global rout. SCMP, 17 June
Beijing bets on infrastructure investment to revive China’s economy. China’s powerful economic planning authority, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), approved on Thursday 10 fixed-asset investments worth 121 billion yuan ($18.1 billion) in May. The State Council and NDRC also pledged more support for private sector investment. SupChina, Caixin, 16 June
Influencers abandon TikTok Shop in latest blow to UK ecommerce venture.
TikTok influencers in the UK are dropping out of the company’s ecommerce programme, complaining of poor pay, long hours and promoting cheap products, in the latest signal that the company’s “livestream shopping” model is struggling to take off worldwide. FT, 17 June
Relocating mainlanders see Singapore as a safe haven for their businesses and property. Caixin, 16 June
China focus
New railway completes loop of Taklamakan Desert in move to integrate Xinjiang with rest of China. China State Railway Group says new 825km Hotan-Ruoqiang railway will ‘play a role in boosting ethnic unity, strengthening national defence’, as Beijing doubles down on its project to integrate the region with the rest of the country while Western companies look to diversify and decouple from the supply chain in Xinjiang, citing fears of sanctions. SCMP, 17 June
Chinese slowdown pushes youth unemployment to new highs. Joblessness among youth rose to 18.4% last month, the highest rate since before the pandemic and far above that of the US or Europe. WSJ, 16 June
China’s elites think feminism is a foreign plot. Party officials blame a brutal assault on several women in Tangshan on the problem of organised crime. The Economist, 16 June
China turns Winter Olympic villages into Covid quarantine camps. FT, 17 June
Long reads & opinion
Failing to engage with China will lead to a growing threat of war. A book review of Kevin Rudd’s ‘The Avoidable War’. David Miliband. Prospect, 16 June
Technology and reshoring will help to secure supply-chain resilience. Sourcing products closer to home and enhancing digital capacity are key moves for a ‘just-in-time’ model rocked by Covid and war. Abigail Townsend. The Times, 17 June
The Consequences of Conquest. Why Indo-Pacific power hinges on Taiwan. Brendan Rittenhouse Green and Caitlin Talmadge. Foreign Affairs, 17 June
China is hardening itself for economic war. Beijing is trying to close economic vulnerabilities out of fear of US containment. Zongyuan Zoe Liu. Foreign Policy, 16 June