China News - 17 May 2021
International
China uses Uyghur forced labour to make solar panels, says report. Xinjiang produces about 45% of the world's supply of the key component, polysilicon, the research by the UK's Sheffield Hallam University says. The report identifies 11 companies engaged in forced labour transfers. BBC, Report, 15 May
China bars foreign curricula, ownership in some private schools. The new law, which comes into effect on Sept. 1, halts the teaching of foreign curricula in schools from kindergarten to grade nine (K-9) and prohibits the ownership or control of any private K-9 schools by foreign entities. Ninth grade students in China are typically 15 or 16 years old. Reuters, 17 May
Developing countries sign Huawei deals despite US warnings. Research by CSIS identified 70 deals in 41 countries between Huawei and governments or state-owned enterprises for these services from 2006 to April this year. FT, 16 May
China says US blocked joint UN statement on Middle East. United Nations Security Council members condemned the violence in the Middle East during an emergency session Sunday but failed to agree on a unified position after China accused the U.S. of blocking a joint statement. WSJ, 16 May
China lands rover on Mars for the first time. Xi stressed the importance of national self-reliance in scientific fields and called for “China’s strength in space technology” to be increased, according to state media. FT, The Guardian, 15 May
Chinese contractors win majority of mega projects in Africa. By 2019, Chinese companies accounted for 60 per cent of the revenue of all the major international contractors in Africa. SCMP, 17 May
Philippines won’t move an inch on South China Sea, Duterte tells Beijing. Reuters, 15 May
World Uyghur Congress hits out at City of London Corporation's China stance. City AM, 15 May
Coronavirus: Taiwan’s outbreak surges with 333 new infections on Monday. SCMP, 17 May
Economy & tech
Why China’s stranglehold on rare minerals could cost us the earth. Developing Britain’s rare earth magnets recycling capability is a “big and obvious opportunity for the UK government”. Sunday Times, 16 May
Global luxury brands stand a better chance of weathering China’s nationalistic consumer fervour, says Credit Suisse. SCMP, 17 May
Goldman Sachs is on an unprecedented hiring spree in China. The bank is in the process of hiring 320 staff in mainland China and Hong Kong. Bloomberg, 17 May
Longer reads & opinion
How missing CCTV footage turned a Chinese family’s tragedy into a national conspiracy. A mother’s search for the truth about her son’s death exposes the level of public distrust in China’s authorities. The Guardian, 16 May
Electric shock for the UK’s car industry. “The writing is on the wall” for the UK’s competitive advantage in internal combustion engines. Sunday Times, 16 May
Why China investment in Inter brings urgent need to scrutinise owners. The Guardian, 16 May
Only an international effort can put an end to China’s crimes in Xinjiang. Jewher Ilham and Sophie Richardson in The Guardian, 16 May
Four good reasons why Communist China will never become the world superpower. Charles Parton in The Telegraph, 17 May