China News - 2 November 2022
International
Security Minister confirms investigation into Chinese police stations, pledges to close Confucius Institutes. CRG chair Alicia Kearns yesterday raised an Urgent Question with Minister for Security Tom Tugendhat about the legal status of CCP overseas police networks operating in the UK. The Home Office has pledged that “action would be taken” should it be found that these stations were being used to inveigle Chinese citizens back to China. Former CRG chair Tugendhat also confirmed that the government is set to ban Chinese-funded Confucius Institutes from British universities. iNews, City AM, 1 November
Chinese police stations in the Netherlands ordered to close immediately. NL Times, 2 November
New taskforce set up to tackle threats to UK democracy. Independent, 1 November
NCSC warns of threat from hostile states in annual report. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), a wing of GCHQ, said China is using an army of cyber criminals to steal information from western countries as it tries to achieve dominance in sectors including artificial intelligence and quantum computing. Chinese cyberforces were “by far the largest in the world” according to the report. The Times, 2 November
Aerial photos reveal true extent of China’s military build-up in great detail. New images have been released of China's artificial islands, revealing the country's heavy militarisation in close detail for the first time. Military analysts said they showed close-ups of radar stations, airfields, artillery installations and fast attack boats near disputed reefs and rocks that China has converted into bases. Meanwhile, China has shown no interest in discussing steps to reduce the risk posed by nuclear weapons, senior US officials said on Tuesday. The Telegraph, Reuters, 2 November
Iran using Chinese knock-offs to build Russian suicide drones, researchers find. According to a new report from the Institute for Science and International Security, explosive Shahed-136 drone systems to hit Ukraine's critical infrastructure appear to be built using Chinese parts that are based on Western designs. Business Insider, 2 November
US pushes Japan and other allies to join China chip curbs. Tokyo has begun internal discussions on the issue at Washington's request, a Japanese government insider said. Officials are weighing which restrictions can be adopted in Japan, and will watch how other US allies such as the UK, EU and South Korea respond. Nikkei Asia, 1 November
Germany’s Baerbock warns Scholz ahead of his China trip. Chancellor Olaf Scholz makes an inaugural visit to China on Friday that will be closely watched for clues on how serious Germany is about reducing its economic reliance on Asia's rising superpower. Politico, 1 November
Chinese diplomat in spotlight after violence in Manchester was involved in previous brawl with Taiwanese officials. Gao Lianjia - one of four Chinese diplomats who were filmed fighting with protesters outside China's consulate - created headlines in 2020 by allegedly assaulting a Taiwanese representative outside the Grand Pacific Hotel in Fiji's capital, Suva. ABC, 2 November
China offers to help Bangladesh keep lights on as outages bite. Nikkei Asia, 1 November
Economy & tech
Global bankers ‘very pro-China’, says UBS chair. Global bankers are all “very pro-China”, UBS chair Colm Kelleher said at a financial forum in Hong Kong, where Chinese officials sought to woo rattled international investors. Hong Kong is seeking to boost its status as an international financial centre at the conference, with chief executive John Lee pitching it as a unique link to the rest of China. FT, 2 November
Chinese stocks surge on speculation of Covid Zero exit. Chinese stocks listed in the US surged on Tuesday, fuelled by speculation that Beijing is preparing to phase out Covid Zero policies - even as the nation’s Foreign Ministry said it was unaware of such a plan. Bloomberg, 1 November
Tesla closes flagship showroom in China in retail strategy shift - sources. Reuters, 2 November
Sales at China’s top 100 property developers sink record 28% in October. Yicai, 1 November
China focus
Chinese city accused of ‘performative lockdown lifting’. Residents of the city of Zhengzhou accused authorities of lifting restrictions only to reduce scrutiny of the lockdown’s severity. Beijing has ordered a seven-day lockdown of the area around Foxconn Technology Group’s main plant in Zhengzhou, a move that will severely curtail shipments in and out of the world’s largest iPhone factory. The Guardian, 1 November
Hong Kong court lifts reporting ban on national security case for 47 democrats. The lifting of the reporting restrictions was seen as a breakthrough by some activists. It is the first time reporting will be allowed for pre-trial hearings for a national security case in Hong Kong. Reuters, 1 November
Long reads & opinion
Xi Jinping is suffering from 'bad emperor syndrome'. Inside the rise of the Chinese president's cult of personality. Sophia Yan. The Telegraph, 1 November
Geopolitics is the biggest threat to globalisation. The consequences of a great power rupture may be even worse now than during the cold war. Martin Wolf. FT, 1 November
Britain should renew ties with old friends in Asia. Singapore’s former foreign minister thinks Britain now needs both China and the Commonwealth. George Yeo. The Economist, 1 November
Countries wary of China need patriotic investment plans. Elisabeth Braw. Foreign Policy, 1 November