China News - 20 April 2021
MI5 warns of spy threat from professional networking sites. More than 10,000 British nationals have been targeted online for recruitment in the past five years by hostile states such as China, as foreign spies increasingly manipulate professional networking sites. In a campaign being launched this week, UK security agencies will warn 450,000 civil servants and partners in industry and academia that Britain’s adversaries are creating fake online accounts to ensnare people who are privy to classified information FT, The Times, 19 April
Xi Jinping hits out at US for ‘bossing others around’. “International affairs should be handled by everyone,” the Chinese president told the Boao Forum for Asia, an event billed as the country’s answer to the World Economic Forum in Davos. “The rules set by one or several countries should not be imposed on others, and the unilateralism of individual countries should not give the whole world a rhythm,” he said. FT, The Times, 19 April
MPs condemn ‘grotesque’ revelations that Uighur workers are sold online in China. A backbench motion on mass human rights abuses and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang is set to take place on Thursday 22 April in the House of Commons. The Independent, 20 April
Nearly 130 civil servants fail to take required pledge of allegiance to Hong Kong government, with most facing dismissal. SCMP, 19 April
New Zealand pushes aside Five Eyes to pursue closer ties with China, its largest trading partner. The Telegraph, The Times, The Times, 19 April
UK sanctions: Leading arbitration silk leaves Essex Court Chambers for Brick Court. Global Legal Post, 19 April
Joe Biden set to make his first arms sale to Taiwan, in a sign of continued US military support. The Times, 20 April
‘It will be bloody’: Philippines’ Duterte threatens to ‘stake a claim’ over South China Sea energy resources using military ships. SCMP, 20 April
49 passengers on India-Hong Kong flight test positive for COVID. Al Jazeera, 20 April
China watch
Chinese censors take aim at former premier Wen Jiabao’s essay. A personal essay about Wen’s late mother, likely interpreted as criticism of Xi, has disappeared from social media. FT, The Times, 20 April
Chinese universities should produce inquisitive thinkers who are totally loyal to the Communist Party, Xi Jinping says on visit to Tsinghua University. SCMP, 19 April
China stresses family values as more women put off marriage and childbirth. WSJ, 19 April
West-backed color revolution a ‘top threat’ to China's national, political security. Global Times, 20 April
Economy & tech
UK government intervenes in Nvidia takeover of chip designer Arm. Digital Secretar Oliver Dowden has issued an intervention notice. BBC, 19 April
English pub chain Helen’s to IPO as enormous offline social network. Helen’s International (海伦司), which operates more than 350 pubs across China, bills itself (in Chinese) as “an offline social platform for young people.” SupChina, 13 April
Foreign buying of Chinese government bonds stalls. WSJ, 19 April
Longer reads & opinion
‘Follow the Party Forever’: China plans a Communist birthday bash. Patriotic films, history lessons and mass weddings are part of the plans to celebrate the CCP’s 100th birthday. NYT, 19 April
China's belt and road to nowhere. The APPG for the BRI was dissolved at the 2019 election. Steerpike, 20 April
Briefing: historical nihilism, patriarchy and misogyny, and Chinese-Australians in the public service. China Neican, 20 April