China News - 18 September
International
EU risks depending on China for batteries after quitting Russian energy. Europe could become dependent on China for lithium-ion batteries, as it was on Russian energy before the invasion of Ukraine. Europe must therefore diversify towards Africa and Latin America. Belen Carreno. Reuters, 18 September
China’s Wang Yi visits Russia ahead of possible Xi-Putin meeting. During a four day trip to Russia, Wang is expected to meet Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev and pledge a deeper mutual political trust. Ryan Woo and Lidia Kelly. Reuters, 18 September
China complains to Germany after foreign minister calls Xi a “dictator”. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, said that Baerbock’s comments were “absurd” and “open political provocation”. Liz Lee, Ethan Wang and Bernard Orr. Reuters, 18 September
Taiwan urges China to stop “continuous military harassment”. The appeal comes as Taiwan spotted 103 Chinese military aircraft and 9 navy ships over and in the seas, which is a “recent high”. Al Jazeera, 18 September
China’s military hierarchy under spotlight after defence minister disappears. In China, the Minister of National Defence is significantly less powerful than his international counterparts. The role is essentially diplomatic and ceremonial without a direct command function. Greg Torode and Yew Lun Tian. Reuters, 18 September
China and Cambodia pledge stronger ties as Xi Jinping welcomes new PM Hun Manet to Beijing. The trip is Manet’s first bilateral visit since becoming Cambodia’s leader. The visit promises further cooperation in law enforcement, security and industry. Zhao Ziwen. South China Morning Post, 18 September
Economy & Tech
German companies must cut exposure to China, warns Bundesbank. Germany’s central bank says operations are susceptible to trade disruption and that the “business model is in danger” as the foreign minister supports Brussels' EV probe. Martin Arnold and Guy Chazan. Financial Times, 18 September
China’s property revival plan threatened by stand-off over old neighbourhoods. Beijing’s plan to revitalise the property sector through the redevelopment of poorer areas has resulted in a standoff as residents refuse to move out of their houses for them to be turned into shopping malls. Sun Yu. Financial Times, 18 September
Evergrande arrests: China police detain staff at property giant’s wealth management arm. Several employees at a subsidiary of Evergrande have been arrested by police in Shenzhen. The police have not specified the number of employees or their charges. The Guardian, 18 September
China lifts temporary curbs on gold imports as renminbi recovers. The spread between the Shanghai and London gold price hit a record $121 per troy ounce last week. Cheng Leng and Harry Dempsey. Financial Times, 18 September
Nippon Paint targets China expansion despite property market slowdown. Nippon Paint’s co-president Yuichiro Wakatsuki remains “cautiously optimistic” that the company can still make “good money” in China despite investor concerns about the impact of the slowdown for the Japanese group. David Keohane and Kana Inagaki. Financial Times, 18 September
Opinion & long-reads
Peak China? Jobs, local services and welfare strain under economy’s structural faults. Record high youth unemployment and bankrupt local councils are all signs that China;s population are beginning to feel the weight of the economy’s flaws. Amy Hawkins. The Guardian, 18 September
The ethical dilemmas of cutting a deal with Xi Jinping’s China. The article suggests that a strategic stance of principled resistance is more important than ever. Geremie R. Barme. The China Project, 15 September
Belt and Road Initiative: Kazakhstan shows how to meet China on its own terms. Kazakhstan has managed to align the initiative with its own development plan as well as using its strategic geographical location to diversify away from its traditional dependence on Russia. David Morris. South China Morning Post, 17 September