China News - 17 March 2021
International
MPs demand stronger laws to combat modern slavery. A new report from the business, energy and industrial strategy committee has called for tougher laws to address companies’ “wilful blindness” to the potential use of slave labour in Xinjiang. It says that government policy and modern slavery legislation is “not fit for purpose in tackling this serious situation” and government has been slow to make changes. FT, The Guardian, Full report, 17 March
Raab says UK wants trade deals with nations that violate human rights. Huff Post scooped a leaked video of Dominic Raab telling FCDO staff that only trading with countries that meet European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) standards would mean the UK missing out on trade with future “growth markets”. Huff Post, 16 March
Reaction to the Integrated Review. Boris Johnson yesterday warned against a “new Cold War on China” as several MPs criticised his continuing “naivety” on the UK-China relationship. The China Research Group commented that the IR was a welcome reframing of the challenge of China’s rise as a values issue. Analysis in iNews, The Independent and The Spectator.
Today at 10am, former Chancellor George Osborne gives evidence on the UK’s security and trade relationship with China to the Lords International Relations and Defence Committee.
US officials meet with Japanese Prime Minister ahead of Alaska meeting tomorrow. A joint statement from the US administration’s first Asian trip focused on China’s growing assertiveness. The Us also announced it would impose financial sanctions on 24 Chinese officials. NYT, Reuters, Japan Times, 17 March
Beijing warns European ‘haters’ over human rights sanctions. China warned the European Union not to interfere in its national security affairs. Bloomberg, 16 March
China watch
Xi on China’s pledge to reach carbon neutrality before 2060. On Monday, Xi called the goal “a major test of the party's capabilities in governing the country”. Xinhua, 16 March
Meeting on "Platform Economy" and new SAMR rule on e-commerce. Xi’s latest comments on the platform economy. Pekingnology, 16 March
Fearing a property bubble, China overhauls how it sells land. Key cities should coordinate residential-land auctions and hold them at a few specific times each year WSJ, 17 March
Economy & tech
Chinese piglet prices soar as swine fever raises supply fears. FT, 17 March
China’s Baidu set to raise $3.1bn in Hong Kong stock listing. FT, 17 March
Longer reads & opinion
Sir Alex Younger: West must face the authoritarian threat from a position of strength. Former head of MI6 in The Times, 17 March. Also op-eds from Tom Tugendhat on need for funding and Lisa Nandy on the IR as a missed opportunity.
John Bew profile: Pragmatist who led the defence review. The Times, 17 March
US-China relations: Beyond the 'Cold War' cliche. The meeting in Alaska will help to gauge the dynamics of the relationship between the two most important global powers. BBC, 17 March
Japan a key player in UK’s tilt to the Indo-Pacific. Politico, 17 March