China News - 19 October 2020
Reminder: Today’s CRG briefing on human rights in Xinjiang and Tibet with Adrian Zenz and Rahima Mahmut, 6pm - 7pm. Sign up here.
International
China warns US it may detain Americans over prosecutions - WSJ reports. The Wall Street Journal reported that the Chinese government may detain Americans in China in response to the Justice Department’s prosecution of Chinese military-affiliated researchers. The Chinese officials have issued the warnings to U.S. government representatives repeatedly and through multiple channels, including through the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. The Chinese message, people familiar with the matter said, has been blunt: The U.S. should drop prosecutions of the Chinese scholars in American courts, or Americans in China might find themselves in violation of Chinese law." WSJ, Reuters, 19 October
Chinese economy expands 4.9% in third quarter, missing expectations but still first major economy to recover from Covid-19 pandemic. The expansion in GDP was well ahead of a 3.2% increase in the second quarter and represented a sharp turnaround from a historic decline at the start of the year. The recovery in the world’s second-largest economy has been fuelled by state-backed industrial growth, and shows signs of spreading to consumption. Retail sales recorded their best performance this year, beating expectations to rise 3.3% last month. FT, Reuters, 19 October
64 year-old missing Hong Kong protester 'Grandma Wong’: I was held in mainland China for 14 months, including being held in a detention centre for 45 days and forced to give a confession. The Guardian, BBC, The Times, 18 October
Taiwan official in hospital after alleged 'violent attack' by Chinese diplomats in Fiji, highlighting tensions between Beijing and Taipei in their struggle for influence across the Pacific. The Guardian, 19 October
US power in Asia Pacific falls amid mishandling of Covid, Australia's Lowy Institute finds - and China set to be on track to match the US in standing by the end of this decade. The Guardian, 19 October
'Something close' to genocide in China's Xinjiang, says U.S. security adviser Robert O’Brien, citing US customs seizure of “massive numbers” of hair products made with human hair from Xinjiang. Reuters, 16 October
China watch
China’s top legislative body passes new biosecurity law to prevent and manage infectious diseases, establishing systems for biosecurity and biotechnology research (Reuters).
Joint CCP Central Committee and State Council guidelines issued for deeper reform of its school systems for students, teachers and schools to facilitate all-around abilities over test results. It is the first guideline issued by the central leadership on education evaluation (China Daily).
Economy & tech
Alibaba increases stranglehold on Chinese shoppers as it looks to take control of leading supermarket chain Sun Art retailing. Alibaba is already China’s biggest e-commerce player and owns Taobao, the world’s largest online marketplace. Alibaba will pay HK$28bn (US$3.6bn, £2.bn) to raise its stake in the Hong Kong-listed Sun Art from 21% to 72% according to a company statement. BBC, 18 October
China’s “National Champions”: Alibaba, Tencent, and Huawei. Asian Studies, 2019
Beijing gives green light for Hong Kong leg of Ant’s $30bn IPO - world’s biggest stock market debut moves closer. FT, 18 October
Brazil’s President considering banning Huawei from Brazil’s 5G network. China is Brazil’s largest trading partner. Caixin, 16 October
Longer reads & opinion
Neil O’Brien MP: Here are three urgent responses to China’s growing power – which we will soon have an opportunity to make. Conservative Home, 19 October
Chinese-Americans campaign for Trump on WeChat. The app has about 3m users in the US. Yuan Yang in FT, 19 October
Kiwis and hawks: Is New Zealand edging closer to Australia on China? The Interpreter, 14 October
Report: The flipside of China’s central bank digital currency and long-term impacts on government’s ability to shape economic behaviour beyond PRC. ASPI
U.S.’s China Hawks Drive Hard-Line Policies After Trump Turns on Beijing. WSJ, 16 October
The week ahead
Monday
China: Release of quarterly economic data, including GDP and retail data.
Japanese Prime Minister Suga visits Vietnam and Indonesia in first overseas trip.
Tuesday
9:30am - 12:30pm: Minister for Digital Infrastructure Matt Warman gives evidence to the digital, culture, media and sport select committee on the UK’s deployment of 5G and broadband.
2:30pm - 5.00 pm: Foreign Affairs Committee - The UK’s role in strengthening multilateral organisations, including Bill Browder.
Thursday
Chinese state-controlled pharmaceutical Sinopharm Group will release financial results for the quarter ended 30 Sept. Sinopharm is one of three Chinese companies conducting preproduction Phase 3 trials on a COVID-19 vaccine.